Gabon, Botswana and Angola are the top 3 most attractive markets for retail expansion in Africa – out of 15, according to the A.T. Kearney 2015 African Retail Development Index (ARDI).
The ARDI is a useful framework for retailers, because it not only identifies the markets in Africa most attractive for retail expansion today, but those that offer the most potential in the future. South Africa, the most saturated market, is ranked 6th out 15 countries, pipped by Nigeria (4th) and Tanzania (5th).
Mirko Warschun, A.T. Kearney partner and head of the firm’s consumer industries and retail practice for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, commented: “If scale is not your biggest worry, Africa’s mature markets — in the ARDI, they include Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa — remain solid points of entry, with established shopping cultures, relatively high wealth levels, and well-established infrastructure. In these markets it is important to bring a differentiated retail concept.”
