Uchumi Supermarket Back With A Niche For SMEs

Imagine if every weekend supermarkets in Kenya allowed SMEs to access their premises and sold their own goods and services without being interrupted by anyone?

Can this happen in Kenya? If this happened, will we be still losing 450,000 SMEs annually, 30,000 monthly and 1,000 daily? The sector would be far. Right?

Can you believe that this is what Uchumi Supermarket is doing? Can you imagine that every Saturday, Uchumi Supermarket will be allowing SMEs to sell their own products and services?

If you thought Uchumi Supermarket is dead, then you should quickly consult your financial ancestors and apologize. Uchumi Supermarket is back, small and sophisticated, with a special focus on seeing small businesses thrive.

This Saturday (January 30, 2021) Uchumi Supermarket kicked off what they termed as SME Market at their Lang’ata Hyper; allowing vendors to access the place and display and sell their products.

The place is filled with various vendors who are eager to tap into the amazing customers accessing the place. Some of the goods being sold are footwear, clothes, handbags, vegetables, fruits, households items among others.

Uchumi Supermarket says it will be doing this every Saturday. The retailer says it is one way of it giving back to the economy by ensuring that small businesses grow together.

“This is an amazing thing. I think Uchumi Supermarket is setting an example that other retailers should follow. Never have I ever seen this before,” said Anne Wanjiru, a customer who arrived at Uchumi Lang’ata Hyper.

“am grateful to be here today. Kenyans should come at this place to buy our products. I thank Uchumi for this rare opportunity. I must be back next Saturday,” said Wamboi Carol, a vendor.

The SME sector in Kenya employs about 86 percent or the population and contributes about 45.6 percent to Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is such a great sector that needs all the support.