The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Nigerian food comes to Lewisham, London

    Nigerian food comes to Lewisham, London

    WITH a proliferation of swanky European and Asian offerings across south east London, there was an absence of high-end African options.

    Now Enish Nigerian Restaurant and Grill in Lewisham High Street has filled that void with an up-scale, trendy place to get a different kind of bite.

    Joint owners Eniola and Olushola Medupin have 20 years experience in restaurants and finance, with Olushola having run one of Lagos’ top 10 restaurants for a decade.

    The appeal of Nigerian food, the couple say, is its freshness and variety of ingredients.

    The unrefined, natural foods are full of flavour and rich in fibre and low GI carbs, with a wide range of ingredients sourced from Nigeria.

    Shola, Joint owner Shola Medupin said: “Patrons are guaranteed a taste of Nigeria with every bite.

    “Every Nigerian meal is an event which we are out to share with the people of London.”

    She added: “My experiences coming from a third world country where stable electricity is scarce as gold, we weren’t into making large batches of food, some to be consumed on the day of production and the rest frozen until it’s needed.

    “I come from a place where each individual meal or plate of food is made freshly from scratch and uniquely to each customer’s need.”

    Shola said: “The recommended meal for a first timer would be Jollof rice N2, 265, which is slowly cooked rice in tomatoes, peppers, herbs and spices with fried plantain and bee.

    “If you are not a first timer or would like to try something more adventurous, the recommendation is Pounded Yam with Efo Egusi and Fresh fish N3,780.”

  • Ngige takes campaign to Ladipo market

    The former Governor of Anambra state Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige visited Ladipo market in Lagos. His visit was mainly in the interest of traders, spare part dealers and car battery dealers. But not all of them welcomed him with opened hands, saying they have witnessed such visit several times and are not impressed with the outcome.

    Mr. Uche Chukwu sells Honda and BMW spare parts at Ladipo market. He said the senator promise to create a link with the Government to enable traders experience stress free importation and avoid problems while transacting business. “If he can help us solve importation problem, we will be grateful to him and begin to build trust for other political aspirant.”

    A car repairer, Mr Samson Uduaka said he believes the Senator’s words. Adding that his visit signifies that he has the interest of the masses in mind which will enhance buying and selling in the market. “Senator Ngige promise to build complexes where our spare parts can be kept before they are sold, he also promise to construct good roads and repair the bad ones .

    Mr. Timothy Nwonkeji sells Toyota spare parts, he said he had a bad experience four months ago when he tried importing some motor spare parts but with the assurance Senator Ngige has given to traders in the market, he is satisfied and will support him during the elections.“He is my man.” he said.

    while many traders embraced the Senator’s visit, few frown at it. A battery seller, Mr. Ben Chibueze said he is not interested in the Senator’s promises.“many have promised and failed “

  • Up, up go prices of food items at weekends

    Up, up go prices of food items at weekends

    No bi my fault that Oporoko costs today; na because na weekend people dey come market pass.”

    These were the words of Mrs Susanna Nwankwo, a stock fish seller at Oyingbo Market in Lagos, whose reason for increasing her items at weekends is the large number of prospective buyers, particularly.

    People have come to accept that food items would be bought at higher prices than usual at weekends. Therefore, they pay double the normal price and, sometimes, thrice the cost of the items. Some even see the availability of food items at weekends as a favour by traders.This may be because, for busy workers, weekends are the only free time to do their shopping because of their tight schedule during the week days.

    However, the exploitation by traders who take advantage of the situations to increase prices cannot be over emphasised. However, they claimed that it is beyond their control.

    In Lagos, weekends to a seller of food items is a time to make more money; he/she makes available varieties, not leaving out old stock.  They said it is the best time to sell all that was not bought during the week.

    “It is not my fault that I sell at double or three times the usual price; it is because, I pay to some government officials double the amount I pay for my stall on week days. The officials are aware that the market receives more customers at weekends; they, therefore, exploit us by charging double. We pay daily for our stalls, but those who cannot afford to pay daily, are allowed to make weekly payment. The fee varies; we are charged higher at weekends, a trader’s item is also a determinant, and how long he/she has been in the market.

    “We tend to pass on the high charges to our customers who are used to the weekend increment and wouldn’t mind paying more just to get what they want. The interesting part is that most of our weekend customers are big shots; you know!” said Mrs Olufunmike Adegboye, a turkey trader at the market.

    Another reason profferedd by traders for the high costs of food stuffs at weekends  is that suppliers of farm produce do not transact business or import produce at weekends as much as they do on week days? Therefore, the low business operations on the side of the sellers and high demand for the few products available by buyers automatically leads to product price increase on weekends.

    This can be likened to what happens during the Ramadan. One might want to ask why fruits and beef become expensive; it is simply a demand and supply issue.

    With the busy nature of markets at weekends, particularly the Major ones in Lagos, buying and selling are always at their peak. It is business as usual and traders said their weekend sales figure is encouraging.

    “We make more sales at weekends,” said Mrs Latifat Adebayo, a tomato seller at Mile 12 foodstuff market.

    “More people visit the market at weekends to restock for the week ahead. They patronise us better even if they complain of lack of cash, attributing it to the poor economy of the country.”

    At Ketu Market, Mr Mohammed Suliaman, who sells onions, said he looks forward to going to the market early at weekend than every other day, because of the huge sales he makes.

    “I dey take big, big money go house on Saturdays and Sundays. Today, I reach market 5 am and I don sell well, well before 12pm,” he said.

    Badagry Market in Lagos was also filled with buyers and sellers at the weekend. It was as if Lagosians came out en masse to shop for a celebration.

    One of the traders, Mrs. Romoke Jinadu, noted that the market experiences unusual influx of customers from within and outside Lagos, particularly, at weekends even with the constant increase in prices.

  • ‘Nigeria has prospects for investors’

    ‘Nigeria has prospects for investors’

    Why is Nigeria an attractive destination for foreign investors?

    It is all about demographics!

    We are a nation of 170 million people with a very high proportion of people between the ages of 15, 16 and 25, and that bulge of people is going to grow. Young people are generally very trendy and it is therefore a huge market that retailers should court as buyers when they are young and hopefully retain then as they grow older. The economy is growing exponentially and it will remain an enticing prospect for potential investors for years to come.

    The past few years have seen the rise of modern shopping malls in Nigeria, especially in the country’s commercial hub, Lagos. Why is it so?

    It is just a natural progression from what has always been a way of life for the average Nigerian. It’s a bit more formal now; more modern but with not much difference.

    Nigerians travel a lot and buy a lot. There was an article in one of the British newspapers very recently that says that Nigerians are actually the biggest spenders on the high street in the United Kingdom. To me, it’s just a logical thing that Nigerians would end up having their own shopping malls.

    The potential buying power of Nigeria is recognised by the outside world; there is a lot of wealth here and there is therefore a market here.

    There have been huge barriers to trade in the past, however, since the lifting of some of the trade bans in 2011, trade in several items has been booming.

    How do you secure the right tenant mix for a mall?

    Basically, there is a science to achieving the correct tenant mix in shopping centres and one only needs to compare a shopping mall that has been let and leased by Broll, who understand the science of retail, with one that has been let and leased by another. Without the right tenant placement, tenant mix, the proper use of an anchor and what an anchor does to bring the right mix, a mall will eventually fail.

    Some of the questions we consider are: how do people buy? What do people want? In what order do people buy? Who are the impulse buyers? Who are those who go straight to the destination? How do the children drive it? What is in the mind of people who are going shopping? You have to understand all of these and then you can decide to place the tenants where they would complement the other. This is why if you look at places, such as The Palms, Ikeja City Mall, the Grand Towers Abuja Mall, Polo Park, Kwara Mall or Ceddi Plaza, you see excellent service delivery in all areas.

    How do you determine a suitable interior design for a particular mall?

    As an architect, I advise on what will work, what will not, and what is generally easy to maintain. Shop owners do their own interior designs to suit their taste; however the common areas in the mall should not distract the buyer. Generally speaking, common areas whilst aesthetically pleasing , should be constructed with simple finishes for easy maintenance and to avoid distractions.

    Is online shopping giving th emall owners a problem?

    Online shopping can never take the place of shopping malls and when people say otherwise to me, I disagree. Many people want to sample products first-hand; a feature that is not available online. For example, women may want to find out if a dress suits them. In addition, you cannot tell the quality of the material used online. That said, whilst some may prefer to buy online, (as it can be a less stressful experience) there will always be a place for the high street store, and a place for the malls. In that regard therefore, the wise retailer will use the malls and online shopping side by side.

    What are you doing differently from big departmental stores like Leventis and UTC that have existed before now?

    This is the time for malls. The truth is that there are still many big departmental stores – maybe not in Nigeria, but certainly in other parts of the world like the United Kingdom, the US and the Middle East – and it is often these big departmental stores that are the anchor tenants in major shopping malls today.

    How have you encouraged e-payment in malls?

    In the first instance, for effective e-payment, one needs to have stable, uninterrupted electricity. In reality, many retailers and shoppers would prefer to shop with credit or debit cards. Shoppers with bank accounts can just go with just their cards and it is also safer as one is not carrying around loads of money. However, we have had instances where people have filled their trolleys in places like Shoprite and then the POS terminal is not working. They then go to the ATM machines in the mall to find long queues and sometimes this has led to them leaving their shopping. It’s all about ensuring we have the necessary infrastructure to support a cashless society.

    Would you say you have put Nigeria retail market on the platform since the existence of these malls?

    The truth is that before Broll came, there were no formal retail malls in the Nigerian market. What Broll has done is that it has brought with it processes and procedures from South Africa, and refined those processes and procedures to suit Nigeria. The fact that all my staff members, are indigenes of Nigeria means that Broll has an understanding of the way Nigerians think, and we factor that understanding into the system and the running of these malls. What we do now is give a peculiar offering to the Nigeria people. I can tell you that those who have gone away and want to do it on their own have often come back to Broll; this is because they know that we have good procedures. We operate a number of impressive world class malls like The Palms, Ikeja City Mall, Ceddi Plaza, Polo Park, Kwara Mall and Grand Towers Abuja Mall. We are also working with owners on, the upcoming Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, the Festival Mall in FESTAC, the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja and the Delta Mall in Warri, (to name just a few). What people need to understand is that a company like Broll is very passionate about Nigeria. This is our country; if we don’t make it grow, nobody will come and make it grow for us. We have to look round and see what is going to add value to our own lives.

    How do you intend to accommodate small retailers who are restricted by the rent in malls?

    Unfortunately, to a large extent, this is the way the world is going. To some extent, smaller shops are going to have to look for strategies to cope somehow. Perhaps small retailers can look at their merchandise to see what they can do differently. Retailers will always have to keep moving with the time.

    Where do you see the industry few years from now with more investors coming into the country?

    It is difficult to determine because of some of the barriers I mentioned earlier, and this is where I raise a note of caution. It is not that there are no investors that would like to come in. It is not that there are no retailers that would like to do this. It is not that there are no people who want to be involved in this and to create wealth for this country, but the government needs to ensure that there is an enabling environment, beginning with the local government.

    Looking at the potential for Nigeria in five years’ time, we could have reached the stars. I say this genuinely because when you talk to the ordinary man on the street, there is the willingness to do something. I deal with a lot of international people coming to do business. They go to other West African countries and whilst they accept that doing business there is a lot easier than in Nigeria, they claim that there is a vibrancy and energy about Nigeria that makes them all want to do business here. And then the infamous ‘Nigerian factor’ kicks in! We have to get rid of it. We cannot wait any longer. It is why we are in recession even though many do not accept that fact.

    How would you rate these malls?

    The best, A-Grade Malls are the ones that are let, leased and/or run by Broll and then there are the others.

    Is there potential for more malls in Nigeria and the rest of the continent?

    Yes and no. While Nigeria has the population to support more malls, there are many barriers and one of the biggest barriers is access to the right amount of land in the right location.

    Other barriers include the costs involved with projects like this; often leading to rentals that many retailers cannot afford.

    There is the desire though for malls like the ones we have currently. In 2006 when The Palms opened, there were trade bans in place. In 2011, when some of those trade bans were lifted, we now have international tenants, like Hugo Boss, Mango, Levis, Nike, Wranglers and many more.

    How would you describe the demand from retailers to have a presence in one of your modern facilities?

    The demand is high; we have people coming all the time.

    What are the requirements these malls must meet?

    The design of a mall is very important. The design should meet international building regulations’ standards. Ideally they should cater to all levels of ambulant and visual ability, and they must cater for children

    In addition, a mall has to be easy and cheap to maintain, as the costs of maintaining the building will be for the tenants of the building. Often in Nigeria, we do not think of life-cycle costing and too often therefore, our buildings end up difficult and costly to maintain.

  • Demand for spaces in malls rises

    Demand for spaces in malls rises

    A young entrepreneur, who wants to start up a business inside Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, or any of the malls, may find raising the start-up money difficult. This is because, at the moment, it is only big retailers that can become tenants in the malls. They can afford the high rent and meet management requirements.

    Whether or not a small retailer can get a space in a mall depends on the market, management and rent, among other factors.

    Findings have shown that the number of merchants who desire to become tenants in malls, especially the pioneer ones, is increasing by the day. The first set of malls are: The Palms in Lekki, Lagos, which came into the country in December 2005; Ikeja City Mall opened December 2011, Kwara Mall in Ilorin opened November 2012, Polo Park in Enugu opened September 2011 and Grand Towers Abuja berthed in 2000.

    The Palms always has a long queue of retailers who want to own shops there, same with the Ikeja City Mall and the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall in Surulere.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Broll Nigeria, Mrs Erejuwa Gbadebo, said: “If the major barrier to entry is removed and rent is made affordable to every merchant, then the demand to become tenants in a mall like The Palms or Ikeja City Mall for instance, could be met.”

    ”However, owners of these malls look for successful merchants who are ready to convince them that the new store they are about to house has reasonable chance of success and will help the tenant mix,” she said.

    Mrs Gbadebo added: “If, as a retailer, you are considering a mall for a first-store venture, your financial backing and merchandising experience must be proven. Some small merchants with good business records and proven understanding of the market have a good chance of being considered by a mall developer. So, if a particular merchant has a good reputation in retailing, it might make a strong case for acceptance into his/her choice mall.

    Mall experts said before a retailer moves into a mall, it is necessary to ask: Are the mall’s shoppers my prospective customers? Would the mall offer the best sales volume potential for my kind of products? Can I produce the appeal that will make customers come to my store? Can I deal with the competition of other stores within the mall? How much space do I need to handle the sales volume I expect to have? Lastly, where do I need the space; i.e location within the mall? Some retailers prefer the first floor, while others the ground floor and then, close to the entrance or exit, they want to be in the main flow of customers as they move in and out of the mall. The truth is, that as long as a retailer is visible and can catch the shopper’s eye; such retailer will do well anywhere within a mall.

    There are some retailers who wouldn’t mind the location but prefer a spacious store; they would rather go for the big stores. Of course, the amount of space needed will determine the shop rent; for the bigger the shop, the more expensive it is. Merchants need to rethink their space requirements when located in a shopping mall. Because, rents are typically high, so space must be used efficiently.

    Looking at the brand value and the way people shop, it is actually cost effective to be in a mall. Some retailers actually look out for one, because they have seen the value of a mall.

    If costs are high, the stress on retailers is less. They are not bothered on whether they have being provided with fake diesel; electricity is not a challenge, cleaning the mall is the management’s business, the management guarantees security at all times.

    Some store owners at the Ikeja City Mall shared their experiences. Mr Saliu Azeez the owner of Identity, a clothing store, said his being in the mall has made him more popular.

    Miss Moradeke Sholebo, the owner of May Brand, an accessory store also in the mall said: “The fact that people now shop in malls instigated my moving into the mall. Accessory store make huge sales, especially at weekends and people visit the mall more on weekends; so, I make double the amount made during the week. Another benefit is the location of the mall. It very easy to access”.

    Miss Temitope Ashiru, a store attendant at Poise, said the mall is an interactive and business friendly environment. “Sales are better now that we are in a mall”.

    For small retailers who can’t become tenants in a mall, experts believe they should look for strategies to cope. Such people should look at their merchandise rate and see what they can do differently. They could go round their neighbourhood and offer free delivery. They just have to keep moving with the time, they added.

  • Lagos displaced traders recount ordeal

    Lagos displaced traders recount ordeal

    The expansion of the ongoing Ikorodu road in Lagos which started a year ago has almost paralysed the popular Ikorodu market.

    Traders have become helpless; they are now limited to small spaces they created for themselves.

    Some of them spoke with The Nation shopping. Alhaja Showemimo Adigun sells pepper at the market. “My wares are perishable. If don’t manage like this, I will lose them. I don’t want to lose two things at the same time. I have lost my shop, I don’t want to lose my wares,” she lamented

    Mr Chukwuka Nwosu, who sells foodstuffs said he is happy with the road construction, but he has lost his life fortune to the demolition.

    According to the Iyaloja of Ikorodu market, Alhaja Alimo Anifowose, “We understand why some parts of our market are demolished and we are also trying to help displaced traders with some amount of money to start all over again. I believe the government would hear our cry and provide a more conducive place for us.”

    A trader Mr Kazeem Awe appealed on the government to come to their aid and provide a suitable place for his colleagues, adding that most of them cannot feed well and would not be able to rent new shops.

     

  • Wal-Mart to deliver packages to online buyers

    Wal-Mart Stores Inc is planning to deliver packages to online buyers. It hopes this will enable it to better compete with Mr Price, also a South African clothing store in Nigeria.

    The store is making a big push to ship online orders, hoping to cut fares and gain an edge over its rival and other online retailers, which have no physical store locations.

    Wal-Mart does this at 25 stores, but plans to double that to 50 this year and could expand the programme to hundreds of stores in the future in Nigeria and in other countries.

    Wal-Mart uses carriers such as FedEx Corp for delivery from stores – or, in the case of a same-day delivery service called ‘Walmart To Go’ that is being tested in five metro areas, its own delivery trucks.

    “I see a path to where this is crowd-sourced,” Joel Anderson, chief executive of Walmart said in a recent interview with Reuters.

    Wal-Mart has millions of customers visiting its stores weekly. Some of these could tell the retailer where they live and sign up to drop off packages for online customers who live on their route back home, Mr Anderson explained.

    Wal-Mart would offer a discount on the customers’ shopping bill, effectively covering the cost transportation for delivery of packages, he added.

    “I’m sure it will be a test in some stores. But they may only keep it for metro markets and for higher-priced items,” he added.

  • Traders lament low sales at abattoir

    Traders lament low sales at abattoir

    Traders at the Ajelogo abattoir in Mile Two, Lagos are lamenting poor sales.

    Some of them attribute the development to the ban on the sale of raw meat in the area by the government.

    According to some of them, people patronise Eko meat, saying it is more hygienic.

    One of the butchers, Mr Monsuru Awoleye said business is bad.

    “I have suddenly moved inside Mile 12 market, because my customers have refused to visit the abattoir like they used to. Meat selling is my only source of income,” he said.

    Another butcher, Mr Fijabi Adewale said sales have dropped drastically, adding that his customers buy meat from Mile 12 and other neighbouring markets.

    “I own a meat stand in the market, but I’m always here in the mornings to help out with butchering in the abattoir, to keep it alive for the few customers that we receive.”

    Mrs Ayoka Akinrinde is a food seller. She visits the abattoir frequently because she gets cheap bargains. “I have been patronising this abattoir for years and I have benefited immensely from it. I buy in large quantities because of my kind of business and I get discounts; so it is of very big advantage to me.”

    Another trader Mr Gabriel Onola said he takes meat to his customers at home, since they no longer come to the abattoir. “I came up with this strategy because I am tired of sitting and lamenting. I am trying to make ends meet,” he added.

  • Wine and Spirit Fair opens November 7

    This Nigeria International Wine and Spirit Fair is a world-class trade and will run for three days — November 7 to 10. There will also be a Gala and Award Night. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

     

    Three months from now, over 30 exhibitors from more than 14 countries will be at ‘The Nigeria International Wine and Spirit Fair’.

    The aim of the fair is to have a world-class trade and consumer event that will connect companies with opportunities. The fair, which is in its third edition will hold at the External Ball Room& Extension of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos with exhibitors coming in from all over the world.

    On the third day, there will be a fund raising Gala and awards night to promote Don’t Drink & Drive campaign and to celebrate industry professionals.

    The highlight of the fair with the theme, ‘Toast to life’ will feature a wide variety of wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages, along with wine accessories, equipment and related services, also there will be training and other luxury products to give away. There will be a daily wine tastings; wine master class training will take place, Mixology Room, VIP Cocktail Lounge and Valet Parking arrangement for guest.

    According to the organiser of the fair Mrs Aderonke Sobodu, MD Spronks Creations Limited, “The remarkable development and tremendous potential of Nigeria’s wine and spirit market has drawn much business attention in recent years. We are optimistic that the market is bound to grow in respect to value and volume in the coming year. This belief necessitated the organisation of the Nigeria International Wine and Spirit Fair to cater for the booming demand for wine and spirits in the country and also to create a trade platform for wine and spirit producers who seek expansion.

    “The Fair is significantly essential to international wine and spirit producers, distributors, suppliers, traders, consumers, the hospitality business and other stakeholders. It is also highly essential for consumer education in our fast growing wine and spirit market as knowledge strengthens the industry with quality service and smarter shopping,” she adds.

    This year’s edition promises to be a fantastic experience and there’s something for everyone above 18.

    The pilot of the campaign will start in Lagos with a Don’t Drink and Drive Walk.

    The campaign also informs the need to partner with Metro Taxi as the official transportation partner for the fair. The taxi arrangement is imperative as a trusted option to move visitors to and fro the event at a very reasonable discount to discourage people from driving under the influence of alcohol.

  • ‘Nigerians are highest consumers of Moët & Chandon champagne’

    Shoprite, with its seven stores in Nigeria has sold more Moët & Chandon champagne than the entire group’s liquor stores in South Africa combined, in the period under review.

    Retailers are boosting their presence in the rest of Africa as urbanisation and rising affluence fuel a consumer boom, with a rising middle class demanding quality brands and modern goods.

    Although underdeveloped retail markets, infrastructure and bureaucracy hurdles are prevalent on the continent, South Africa’s retailers have not been deterred.

    Shoprite has earned its stripes as continental kingpin.

    Part of its success it no doubt owes to its first-mover status — it began its expansion in 1995, and its non-South African supermarket operations now span 16 countries in Africa‚ with 192 stores. Rival Pick n Pay has about 95 stores outside South Africa.

    According to independent analyst Ian Cruickshanks, as far as strategy is concerned, Shoprite is far ahead of its opposition.

    “Shoprite has looked at its long-term strategy and the inevitable decline of the South African economy as far as growth rates in the African diaspora go and decided to move beyond this. The fact that they have the capital to support this move into Africa says a lot about good management of cash flow,” he said.

    In the short term, Shoprite will add 47 stores outside its home market, most of which will be in oil-rich Nigeria and Angola. It also plans a distribution centre in Nigeria.

    Other players too are eyeing Africa’s rich retail potential.

    Walmart-owned Massmart is in talks to buy a majority stake in Kenya’s fourth-largest retailer, Naivas. Massmart has 28 stores in 11 countries across the rest of Africa.

    “In Nigeria, I think they have withdrawn from one store they were in and another one where they were supposed to open, but that’s just hearsay … that’s what the developers tells us,” Mr Basson said. “I don’t see them (Walmart) around. Their profits are not doing so well in the US. They are probably concentrating on their big markets first before they will change the world in Africa.”

    The world’s second-largest retailer, Carrefour, has also set its sights on Africa’s burgeoning economies. The French group, which already operates in North Africa, in May, announced a joint venture with African distribution company CFAO to enter eight countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo through various store formats under the Carrefour banner.

    Noah Capital Markets retail analyst Roger Tejwani said Shoprite rolling out more stores in Africa gave longevity to its investment case.

    “It offers a fairly unique, low-risk, clean entry point for those wanting direct exposure to the African consumer growth story,” he said.

    Shoprite Holdings, South Africa’s largest retailer, envisions having 600 to 800 stores in Nigeria in the near future, says CE Whitey Basson, as the group pushes into the continent’s high-growth markets.

    Shoprite said in results on Tuesday it had pushed trading profit beyond R5bn to R5.394bn for the first time. However, Mr Basson warned that prospects in South Africa had been “hampered by widespread labour unrest, rising costs fuelled by a weak rand, falling commodity prices and consumers’ lack of disposable income due to high levels of indebtedness”.

    “The country’s low growth rate created many challenges for the retail industry, a situation exacerbated by the government’s sluggish pace at creating an environment in which business could flourish,” he said.

     

    • Culled from Reuters