Uchumi Supermarket Plc

Uchumi Supermarkets Limited is Kenya's oldest supermarket chain, founded in 1975 as a public limited company by three Kenyan parastatals: Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC), Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL), and Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC). Initially aimed at equitable distribution of commodities and creating outlets for local manufacturers, it entered a management contract with Italian chain Standa SPA in 1976 for training and operations. In the 1990s, Uchumi pioneered the hypermarket concept in Kenya, revolutionizing retail with self-service, variety, and support for over 2,500 local suppliers. Its shares were listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in 1992.