A.T. Kearney’s 2015 African Retail Development Index (ARDI) reconfirms the potential of many nations throughout Africa—not just oft-discussed markets like Nigeria and Ghana, but also small, dynamic markets such as Gabon, the ARDI’s top-ranked market and home to sub-Saharan Africa’s highest GDP per capita, and mid-sized but fast-growing countries like third-ranked Angola.

1. Retail in Africa:
Still the Next Big Thing
2015 African Retail Development Index
2015 African Retail Development Index

2. Selecting countries
for retail expansion
in Africa is more
difficult than ever.
There are no longer
any safe bets—
if there ever were
before.
2015 African Retail Development Index

3. A slowing Chinese
economy and lower
oil prices have put
pressure on African
economies that
already had suffered
from credit crises related
to decreased exports.
2015 African Retail Development Index

4. Many African
countries are still
heavily dependent
on their oil and gas
income (Nigeria, Angola,
and Mozambique)
causing the growth of
the middle class to slow.
2015 African Retail Development Index

5. Gabon, with
Africa’s highest
GDP per capita,
is ranked #1 in
the 2015 ARDI.
2015 African Retail Development Index

6. Botswana (#2)
and Angola (#3)
move up the
rankings with
strong, fast-
growing
economies.
2015 African Retail Development Index

7. Although South Africa (#6)
is a saturated market,
it ranks highly
based on the
strength of its
infrastructure
and consumers.
2015 African Retail Development Index

8. 2015 African Retail Development Index
The 2015 ARDI segments the 15 ranked
countries into three main stages:
1) basic, 2) developing,
and 3) mature.

9. 2015 African Retail Development Index
Retailers with basic offerings
(such as cash-and-carry)
should target larger countries
and cities in basic markets,
as scale is important.
1
BASIC

10. 2015 African Retail Development Index
Retailers with a wider offering
(hypermarkets, fashion, furniture,
fresh, homeware) should target
developing countries,
as scale is less
important.
2
DEVELOPING

11. 2015 African Retail Development Index
3 Southern Africa’s maturing
markets are still a solid
point of entry for
retailers with
differentiated
offerings.
MATURE

12. Advice for retailers entering Africa:
Do your homework and
adapt to local needs and
circumstances.
2015 African Retail Development Index

13. For more information
about A.T. Kearney’s 2015
African Retail Development
Index, please visit:
www.atkearney.com/consumer-products-retail/
african-retail-development-index