Nakumatt picked the runners up slot in the ‘Most Innovative New Concepts for Supermarkets/Neighborhood Store’ category, for its regional expansion strategy in Kigali city.

Leading regional supermarket chain Nakumatt Holdings has entered the retail global awards arena finishing second behind global retail giant Wal-Mart in a recent prestigious Planet Retail Innovation Awards 2008 ranking.

Planet Retail is the leading provider of global retailing information, from news and analysis to market research and digital media and covers more than 7,000 retail and foodservice operations across 140 markets around the world.

In an incredible feat for an African retailer, Nakumatt picked the runners up slot in the ‘Most Innovative New Concepts - Supermarkets/Neighborhood Store’ category for its regional expansion strategy showcased by the opening of Nakumatt City Centre in Kigali Rwanda.

In a communiqué confirming Nakumatt’s triumph, Planet Retail’s Global Macroeconomics Manager Boris Planner, last week described Nakumatt as a pioneer in modern retailing across East Africa’s otherwise highly traditional food sector.  

"Now in its third year, Planet Retail has scoured the globe for innovations in retailing and foodservice and we are proud to note Nakumatt Holdings market performance in the East Africa region,” Planner said.

He added that, "With retailers and restaurant operators facing one of the toughest consumer markets in living memory, this year’s innovations reflect modifications to existing formats rather than totally new concepts which break the mould.”

While accepting the award, Nakumatt Holdings Operations Director Thiagarajan Ramamurthy described the award as the best news this year for the local retailer.

"For Nakumatt Holdings, the award by Planet Retail confirms our world class standing and has most importantly served to put the east Africa map firmly on the global retail scene,” Ramamurthy said.

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