Shoprite is set to exit Ghana by selling off its local operations.
Shoprite is set to exit Ghana by selling off its local operations.
South Africa’s largest grocery retailer, Shoprite Holdings, has confirmed its intention to sell its operations in Ghana, marking a continuation of its strategy to retreat from various African markets and refocus on its South African base.
In a trading statement released for the 52-week period ending June 29, 2025, the company disclosed that it had received a binding offer in June for the acquisition of its Ghanaian assets, consisting of seven trading stores and one warehouse. Shoprite described the transaction as “highly probable,” adding that the operations in Ghana had been classified as discontinued.
In June 2025, the Group received a binding offer to dispose of its Ghanaian assets and liabilities, which include seven retail stores and one warehouse. The sale is deemed highly probable, the retailer stated.
This announcement signals the retail giant’s latest withdrawal from Africa’s wider market, following previous exits from Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Madagascar. In the same update, Shoprite disclosed that it had also signed an agreement on June 6 to dispose of five retail stores in Malawi, pending approval from the country’s Competition and Fair Trading Commission and the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
The decision by Shoprite to exit these markets highlights a significant shift in its pan-African strategy.
As the continent’s former leading food retailer, with operations in approximately 15 countries, the company has been gradually reducing its regional presence in response to persistent economic headwinds, including currency volatility, high import tariffs, inflationary pressures, and dollar-denominated rents.
While a buyer has yet to be officially named, the binding offer indicates that a formal handover may be forthcoming, subject to regulatory approval. Shoprite’s entry into the Ghanaian market occurred in 2003, and its impending exit would mark the culmination of over two decades of operations in the country.
