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.

The company operates retail supermarkets selling food products (fresh fruits, vegetables, bakery, meat), non-food items, personal care, consumer products, textiles, and general merchandise. It also provides property management services through subsidiaries like Kasarani Mall Limited. Historically a market leader alongside rivals like Nakumatt, Uchumi faced severe challenges, entering receivership in 2006 with temporary closure and de-listing from NSE, described as one of Kenya's greatest corporate disasters. A government-led rescue revived it, reopening stores in Nairobi; by 2020, operations shrank to three stores in Kenya, and as of 2025, only one remains in Nairobi. Despite struggles, it maintains a presence with online shopping at select branches.

Once boasting up to 28 stores across Kenya (Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, etc.) and subsidiaries in Uganda and Tanzania, Uchumi positions itself as a value-driven retailer committed to quality service, local sourcing (85% local suppliers), and core values of integrity, transparency, and social responsibility. Its vision is to be the supermarket of choice in Eastern Africa, though recent years reflect contraction amid competition from Naivas, QuickMart, and Carrefour.