{{short description|Kenyan supermarket chain}} {{Use British English|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Uchumi Supermarkets | logo = Logo-Uchumi.png | type = Public company | traded_as = {{KN|UCHM}} | foundation = {{start date|1975}} | location = Nairobi, Kenya | key_people = John Karani <br/>Chairperson<br />Mohamed Mohamed<br/>Chief Executive Officer<ref name="Chief">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Julius-Kipng-etich-picked-to-head-Uchumi-Supermarkets/-/539550/2846012/-/d18oybz/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Poaches Julius Kipng'etich from Equity for Top Job|date=26 August 2015|access-date=26 August 2015|location=Nairobi| last=Gachiri| first=John|newspaper=Business Daily Africa}}</ref> | revenue = Net Sales:US$165.4 million (KES:14.458 billion) (2014) | net_income = {{profit}} Aftertax: US$4.398+ million (KES:384 million) (2014)<ref>{{cite web|access-date=8 September 2014| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-Supermarkets-posts-Sh384m-profit-after-tax/-/539550/2445226/-/id38oo/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Posts KSh384 Million Profit, To Move Key Uganda Outlets|date=8 September 2014| newspaper=Business Daily Africa (Nairobi)|author=Staff Reporter}}</ref> | assets = US$78.8 million (KES:6.885 billion) (2014) | num_employees = 50 (2020)<ref name="Chief"/> | industry = Retail trade | products = Supermarkets | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://www.uchumisupermarkets.co.ke/}} }} '''Uchumi Supermarkets''', often referred to simply as '''Uchumi''', is a Kenyan supermarket chain. The word {{lang|sw|uchumi}} means "economy" in Swahili.
==Overview== Uchumi is headquartered in Kenya. {{asof|April 2019}}, Uchumi is one of a number of Kenyan supermarket chains that serve Kenya, including market-leaders Naivas, Quick Mart and Carrefour. In June 2014, the company's assets were about US$78.8 million (KES:6.885 billion), with shareholder equity of approximately US$38.4 million (KES:3.357 billion).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Uchumi Supermarkets|date=September 2014|access-date=8 September 2014|last=Uchumi|url=http://kenya.uchumicorporate.co.ke/images/stories/Uchumi-2014-audited-accounts.pdf|title=Audited 30 June 2014 Financial Statement|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331121326/http://kenya.uchumicorporate.co.ke/images/stories/Uchumi-2014-audited-accounts.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> By December 2020 there were only three stores in Kenya. as of 2025 there is only one store in operation in Nairobi.
==History== The company was founded in 1975, as a public limited liability company, by three Kenyan parastatal companies: Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL), and Kenya National Trading Corporation. The main objective at the time was to create outlets for the equitable distribution of commodities and to create retail outlets for Kenyan manufactures. In 1976, Uchumi's shareholders signed a management contract with Standa SPA, an Italian supermarket chain, to train Kenyans to run the new enterprise. The company's shares were publicly listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1992.
Uchumi closed down, albeit temporarily, and was placed in receivership during June 2006 after 30 years of business.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5040700.stm | title = Kenyan Shop Chain Shuts Its Doors | website = BBC News | date = 2 June 2006 | access-date = 30 May 2014}}</ref> It was simultaneously de-listed from the NSE. At the time, its closure was described as "one of the greatest corporate disasters in independent Kenya history".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=26 August 2015|url=http://www.sde.co.ke/thenairobian/article/2000114344/the-man-who-tamed-kenya-s-greatest-corporate-disaster|title=The man who tamed Kenya's 'greatest corporate disaster'|date=9 February 2014|website=The Nairobian}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A government-led rescue plan, however, was initiated and consequently five Uchumi outlets, all in Nairobi, were reopened on 15 July 2006 under interim management and a caretaker administrator.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://kenya.uchumicorporate.co.ke/about-us/history | title=Company History | website=Uchumi Supermarkets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105650/http://kenya.uchumicorporate.co.ke/about-us/history |archive-date=31 May 2014 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>
By January 2011, the retail chain had returned to profitability and applied to the Kenya Capital Markets Authority to re-list its shares on the NSE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate%20News/Uchumi%20plays%20catch%20up%20in%20battle%20for%20shoppers/-/539550/1095852/-/item/0/-/10gna5w/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Plays Catch-Up in Battle for Shoppers|date=26 January 2011|first=David|last=Wafula|access-date=30 May 2014|publisher=Business Daily Africa|archive-date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531110735/http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate%20News/Uchumi%20plays%20catch%20up%20in%20battle%20for%20shoppers/-/539550/1095852/-/item/0/-/10gna5w/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Approval to re-list on the NSE was granted in May 2011 and trading in the shares of Uchumi resumed on 31 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=30 May 2014| url=http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/1169104/-/51fhciz/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Shares 'Expected' to Trade at Higher Value|date=25 May 2011|first=Mwaniki|last=Wahome|publisher=Daily Nation}}</ref>
==Ownership== {{asof|July 2014}}, the shares of stock of the retail chain are publicly listed on the NSE, where they trade under the symbol "UCHM". The shares are also cross-listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Uchumi-Supermarkets-becomes-third-to-cross-list-on-Kigali-bourse/-/2560/2031836/-/x78sy2z/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Supermarkets Becomes Third to Cross-List on Kigali Bourse|date=14 October 2013|first=David|last=Mugwe| publisher=The EastAfrican|access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref> and the Uganda Securities Exchange.<ref>{{cite web| last=Mugwe|first=David|date=13 November 2013|publisher=The EastAfrican|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Uchumi-shares-start-%20trading-on-the-Kampala-bourse/-/2560/2071492/-/9uwlms/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Shares Start Trading on Kampala Bourse|access-date=30 May 2014}}{{dead link|date=October 2019}}</ref> The company obtained regulatory approval to cross-list on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, effective 15 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-gets-approval-to-cross-list-on-Dar-bourse-/-/539550/2409658/-/f7vivq/-/index.html | title=Uchumi Gets Approval To Cross-List on Dar Bourse|date=5 August 2014| access-date=5 August 2014|first=Simon|last=Ciuri|newspaper=Business Daily Africa (Nairobi)}}</ref> The six largest shareholders in the company as of April 2015 were:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=6 April 2015|first=Victor|last=Juma|date=5 April 2015| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Kidero-exits-Uchumi-top-shareholders--list/-/539550/2676820/-/sap6giz/-/index.html |publisher=Business Daily Africa (Nairobi)|title=Kidero Exits Uchumi Top Shareholders' List}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" |+ Uchumi Supermarkets Stock Ownership |- ! style="width:2em;" |Rank !!Name of Owner!!Percentage Ownership |- |1 || Jamii Bora Bank || 15.8 |- |2 || Kenya's Ministry of Trade || 14.6 |- |3 || Paul Wanderi Ndung’u || 5.4 |- |4 || KWAL Holdings || 4.3 |- |5 || Equity Nominees: Ac:00111 || 4.1 |- |6 || Karim Jamal || 2.3 |- |7 || 16th Internationalé de Háfs || 1.1 |- |8 || Others via the Stock Exchanges in eastern Africa || 52.3 |- | ||'''Total'''||'''100.00''' |- |}
==Branches== {{asof|April 2019}}, the supermarket chain maintained Six outlets in Kenya:<ref>{{cite web|date=25 November 2015|last=Mutegi| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-opens-24-hour-outlet-in-Nairobi/-/539550/2972126/-/11ykl38/-/index.html| title=Uchumi opens 24-hour outlet in Nairobi| first=Mugambi| newspaper=Business Daily Africa|location=Nairobi}}</ref>
===List of Branches in Kenya=== List of Uchumi branches in Kenya:<ref>{{cite web| title=List of Uchumi Branches in Kenya|publisher=Uchumi Supermarkets|url=http://uchumicorporate.co.ke/kenya/feedback-contact-us|access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref> # Uchumi Unicity – Nairobi Unicity Mall *In 2025 Uchumi has 1 Store at unicity Mall stores. All other Stores were closed down.
==Closure of non-Kenyan stores== In June 2015, Uchumi fired its chief executive officer and chief financial officer at the time, for "misconduct and gross negligence".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2015| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-CEO-sacked-for-gross-misconduct--negligence/-/539550/2752488/-/f5k06gz/-/index.html|date=15 June 2015 |newspaper=Business Daily Africa|location=Nairobi|title=Uchumi sacks Ciano, CFO for 'gross misconduct, negligence'}}</ref> In July 2015, the company hired a Nairobi-based consulting firm to probe employee theft at the retail chain.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2015| last=Ciuri| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Ailing-Uchumi-hires-HR-firm-to-probe-theft-by-employees/-/539550/2811112/-/5jh72u/-/index.html|title=Ailing Uchumi hires HR firm to probe theft by employees|date=28 July 2015| first=Simon|newspaper=Business Daily Africa| location=Nairobi}}</ref> In August 2015, a new CEO was hired.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/25/kenya-uchumi-idUSL5N1103RC20150825|title=Kenya's Uchumi Supermarkets picks new CEO after predecessor sacked|access-date=14 October 2015|date=25 August 2015|work=Reuters|location=Nairobi|last=David Evans| first=Humphrey Malalo and Edmund Blair}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In October 2015, the store chain closed down all its stores in Uganda and Tanzania, citing unprofitability.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2015|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Uchumi-exits-regional-markets/-/996/2913310/-/mxk4w9/-/index.html|title=Uchumi Supermarkets shuts down regional operations|first=Brian|last=Ngugi|date=14 October 2015|newspaper=Daily Nation|location=Nairobi|archive-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017072617/http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Uchumi-exits-regional-markets/-/996/2913310/-/mxk4w9/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the process, 900 former employees were laid off in both countries,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-sacks-900-Uganda--Tanzania-staff/-/539550/2913886/-/mqj0agz/-/index.html|title=Uchumi sacks 900 Uganda, Tanzania staff|access-date=14 October 2015|first=Simon | last=Ciuri|newspaper=Business Daily Africa|date=14 October 2015|location=Nairobi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=15 October 2015| url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-reveals-Sh2-4bn-drain-by-closed-outlets/-/539550/2915442/-/coywf7z/-/index.html|title=Uchumi reveals KSh2.4bn drain by closed outlets|access-date=15 October 2015| first=Mugambi|last=Mutegi|newspaper=Business Daily Africa| location=Nairobi}}</ref> of whom 400 were in Uganda.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/400-Ugandans-lose-jobs-as-Uchumi-exits-Uganda/-/688334/2913948/-/wk3xiwz/-/index.html| title=400 Ugandans lose jobs as Uchumi exits Uganda|date=14 October 2015|access-date=14 October 2014|newspaper=Daily Monitor |location=Kampala|first=Othman|last=Semakula}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Prosper/Uchumi-painfully-closed-Uganda-Tanzania-operations-/-/688616/2920420/-/qa86co/-/index.html| title=Why Uchumi painfully closed Uganda, Tanzania operations| access-date=20 October 2015|date=20 October 2015|last=Mark Keith Muhumuza|first=and Othman Semakula|newspaper=Daily Monitor| location=Kampala}}</ref>
In November 20, 2025 Uchumi announced its comeback<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sande |first=Nyongesa |date=2025-11-20 |title=Uchumi Supermarkets Makes a Major Comeback at Unicity Mall, Nairobi |url=https://www.nyongesasande.com/uchumi-supermarkets-makes-a-major-comeback-at-unicity-mall-nairobi/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=Nyongesa Sande |language=en-US}}</ref> by opening a new store at Unicity Mall Nairobi
==See also== {{Portal|Companies|Supermarkets}} * East African Community * Economy of Kenya * List of supermarket chains in Kenya * List of supermarket chains in Africa
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.uchumi.com}} *[https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=UCHM.NR Uchumi Stock Quote At Reuters.com] *[http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Re+listed+Uchumi+shares+down+21+per+cent+on+comeback+to+bourse/-/1006/1172560/-/q9evgi/-/index.html Uchumi Resumes Trading At The Nairobi Stock Exchange] *[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-my-credit-score-is-calculated-172330839.html Uchumi Appoints Jamii Bora Chief To Its Board] * [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000178899/uchumi-supermarkets-shuts-down-four-outlets Uchumi Supermarkets shuts down four outlets] *[http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Uchumi-sacks-900-Uganda--Tanzania-staff/-/539550/2913886/-/mqj0agz/-/index.html Uchumi sacks 900 Uganda, Tanzania staff, closes all stores outside Kenya]
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Category:Supermarkets of Kenya Category:Retail companies established in 1975 Category:Companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange Category:Companies listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange Category:Kenyan companies established in 1975