Counterfeiting is a billion-dollar industry that is widespread globally. Each year, the industry generates an estimated USD 250 billion in revenue. According to the Anti-counterfeit Agency (ACA) 1 in every 5 products retailing in the market in Kenya is a counterfeit; with over 4 million Kenyans consuming the counterfeit products. In 2017, counterfeits rivaled top...
China has become Africa’s largest trade partner with over 10,000 Chinese owned firms operating within the continent; with business transactions valued at more than USD 2 trillion. Through trade, China’s economic growth has directly impacted the economies of developing countries. Time and again, Africa has proven to be vulnerable to the competitive threat that China...
Consumer goods companies are engaged on daily wars against each other to control larger market shares; and this competition is projected to intensify into the future. This war is waged on three major fronts. On the first front, retailers face competition from their suppliers who have finally decided to adopt the direct-to-consumer (DTC) route. These...
Over the last two years, the food commodity market has been straining from the post COVID-19 pandemic demand, export restrictions, supply chain bottlenecks and taxes. The invasion of Russia into Ukraine in late February this year dramatically worsened the situation by altering global trade patterns, production and consumption of food commodities. The war disrupted the...
In many business environments, consumers are always exploited through overpriced products, artificial scarcity, substandard goods, and misleading advertisements among other ways. Traders leverage on the consumer’s lack of knowledge about the price and quality of commodities, their indifference attitude towards purchase decisions and insufficient market information to take advantage of them. Such business practices are...
Cottage industries are small-scale manufacturing operations that operate out of residential areas including people’s homes. These industries are characterized by the small financial resources needed to set them up and the limited number of employees and output that they generate. Prior to the first and second industrial revolutions, production of consumer goods such as bags...
The retail market in Kenya is characterized by both formal and informal developments. Despite significant investments by Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) multinational giants; the informal sector particularly micro-retailers known colloquially as “dukas” remain to be the true drivers of the sector. It is estimated that the micro-retailers sell a total of USD 11 trillion...
The emerging niche of green consumers across the globe is forcing organizations to rework their marketing strategies. Green marketing has become a key differentiator for businesses incorporating environmental conservation measures in their activities. Not only has it helped firms become more competitive by tapping into new markets but also, but it has also helped businesses...
Retail chains in Kenya are fueled by local suppliers who keep them operational through stocking their shelves with their inventory, so as to attract their target customers. While the two parties enjoy a symbiotic relationship, it has not always been a smooth ride. Many local suppliers have been forced to close shops because of cash...
Food production is critical in sustaining Africa’s population growth; which is projected to reach 2.3 billion people by 2050, according to a report by the United Nation. It is estimated that as the population grows, food production must increase by over 50% in order to meet the growing demand. The increase in agricultural activities to...
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a major catalyst in the surge of technological innovations and adoptions worldwide. Some would refer to this moment as the “tech-celeration” moment that has leapfrogged digital innovations. Some sources would argue that 5 years’ worth of technological advances were adopted in just 5 months. Taking a closer look at the...
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is set to unlock the continent’s growth potential by connecting over 1.3 billion people across 55 countries; with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD3.4 trillion. According to the World Bank, its implementation could boost Africa’s exports by USD560 billion, increase incomes by USD450 billion, and...