Lagos Business School (LBS), KPMG Nigeria, and financial news platform Nairametrics have announced a strategic partnership to host the 2026 Africa Retail Congress and Awards. The collaboration aims to address the critical “execution challenge” that continues to limit the growth and profitability of retail businesses across the continent.
While the African retail opportunity is frequently highlighted by the scale of its consumer market and favourable demographics, the partners argue that the primary barrier remains the ability to serve demand reliably and profitably. The initiative will focus on the operational capabilities required to manage complex supply chains, unreliable payment systems, and fragmented distribution networks.
The partnership brings together academic expertise, professional advisory depth, and media reach. Lagos Business School will provide the research and executive education framework, while KPMG Nigeria is expected to contribute data-driven insights into market trends and risk management. Nairametrics will serve as the primary media partner, facilitating visibility and stakeholder engagement for the upcoming 2026 event.
Retail in Africa remains largely informal, with estimates suggesting that over 80% of consumer spending occurs in traditional open-air markets and kiosks. For formal retailers, scaling beyond urban hubs often involves navigating high logistics costs, which can be significantly higher than global averages due to infrastructure deficits and bureaucratic bottlenecks at border crossings.
Structural Barriers to Scalable Retail Growth
The execution challenge is particularly acute in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) and grocery sectors, where thin margins leave little room for operational inefficiency. According to market analysis by the Brookings Institution, consumer spending in Africa is projected to reach trillions of dollars by 2030, yet many international brands have struggled to maintain a footprint due to these logistical hurdles.
Beyond physical distribution, the digital execution of retail transactions remains a major focus of the partnership. While mobile money has seen explosive growth in East and West Africa, the lack of interoperability between different payment systems often complicates the checkout experience for both consumers and merchants. The congress will examine how fintech integration can reduce transaction failure rates and improve cash flow for SMEs.
The Nairametrics team noted that the 2026 Congress and Awards will not only highlight successful retail models but also provide a platform for policymakers to discuss regulatory reforms that could ease the cost of doing business. This includes harmonising trade standards under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, which is expected to play a pivotal role in the future of intra-African retail trade.
The partnership plans to release a series of whitepapers and industry reports leading up to the 2026 congress. These publications will focus on sector-specific execution strategies for healthcare, food service, banking, and general groceries. The partners stated that the goal is to provide a roadmap for businesses to move from identifying market potential to achieving repeatable and profitable transactions.
In the coming months, the steering committee for the Africa Retail Congress and Awards will begin identifying key industry leaders and innovators who have successfully navigated the continent’s execution hurdles. This preparatory phase will involve regional stakeholder consultative meetings to ensure the 2026 agenda reflects the diverse operational realities across different African markets.
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