Regional retailer, Nakumatt Holdings, has today opened the doors to its 55th branch. As part of its regional expansion drive, Nakumatt, has opened the new store in Kampala, Uganda as it seeks to further deepen formal retail trade.

Speaking at the opening of the new US$ 1.2million Nakumatt Naalya, located at Metroplex Shopping Mall, Nakumatt Holdings, Managing Director, Mr. Atul Shah, confirmed that the firm’s regional expansion plans are progressing on schedule.

The opening of Nakumatt Naalya-the 9^th Nakumatt store in Uganda- Shah said, now sets the pace for the retailer’s ambition to close the year, with a complement of 60 branches in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

At an estimated formal retail penetration rate of less than 20%, the regional formal retail market, Shah noted, is still a fledgling economic sector that deserves further support from respective regional governments to accelerate its growth.

“At Nakumatt, we are actively committed to our corporate mission which is geared at boosting formal retail penetration in East Africa,” Shah said, adding, “The opening of Nakumatt Naalya, confirms the steadily growing demand for world class retail stores.”

Covering a 35,000 square feet shopping floor area, Nakumatt Naalya, has been suitably furnished and stocked with a wide variety of retail products. The store, also features a distinct retail layout and ambience developed to guarantee a pleasurable shopping experience.

Fundamentally aligned to the retailer’s corporate mission, Nakumatt, Shah reiterated, is taking its in store retail experience to a whole new level. “All this, as we seek to maintain a distinct shopping ambience with the widest variety all under one roof,” Shah explained. “Complementing the in store ambience, we have also installed a range of energy efficient appliances,” he added.

The opening of Nakumatt Naalya, comes hot on the heels of the recent reopening of Nakumatt Westgate which now features a departmental store concept. The new departmental stores at Nakumatt Westgate, include a taste fully appointed Nakumatt Select (private brand) home furnishings concept store and the new Kids&Co Flagship Toys store alongside the Clarks and Skechers Lifestyle footwear stores. At Westgate Mall, Nakumatt Holdings is also piloting a Home&Décor, Home and Appliances, Food & Essentials and Sleep Centre Departmental Stores showcasing a variety of retail products.

Across the region, Nakumatt has maintained a trailblazers pace in the promotion of regional retail trade and now operates 9 branches in Uganda, 4 in Tanzania and 2 in Rwanda alongside its 40 stores in Kenya.

Alongside the store openings, Nakumatt is also actively enhancing its private brands (Nakumatt Select and Nakumatt Blue Label) rollout across the region.