15 biggest retailers in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s retail sector remains one of the country’s most resilient industries, despite currency volatility, inflation shocks and forex shortages.

From premium grocery brands to bulk distributors feeding informal traders, Zimbabwe’s largest retail companies form the backbone of the country’s formal consumer economy in one of Africa’s most complex operating environments.

Wholesale powerhouses, including N Richards Group and Gain Cash & Carry, feed smaller retailers and informal traders, reinforcing their strategic importance in Zimbabwe’s distribution network.

As inflation reshapes pricing strategies and forex shortages complicate imports, retailers are adapting through digital payment systems, private-label expansion, lean inventory management, and selective regional partnerships. 

Some chains are modernizing stores and strengthening loyalty programs, while others are targeting value-conscious consumers with bulk offerings and discount models.

Together, these 17 retailers form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s formal consumer economy — balancing survival and scale in one of Africa’s most complex operating environments.

1. OK Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s largest listed supermarket chain, OK Zimbabwe operates dozens of branches nationwide. It dominates urban grocery retail with a mix of food staples, household goods, and private-label products. Despite revenue pressures driven by currency instability and supply chain disruptions, OK remains a bellwether stock on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, employing thousands and maintaining a strong national footprint.

2. TM Pick n Pay (Meikles Limited)
TM Pick n Pay is a leading Zimbabwean supermarket chain (operating as TM Supermarkets), 51% owned by Meikles Limited and 49% by South Africa’s Pick n Pay. The partnership rebranded many TM stores to TM Pick n Pay to offer expanded product ranges and modern shopping experiences. The chain features online shopping and “Click and Collect” services. Known for modern store formats and wide product variety, it serves middle-income consumers across major cities. The chain has navigated forex losses and inflation pressures while maintaining structured supply chains and premium retail positioning.

3. Spar Zimbabwe
Part of the global Spar franchise network, Spar Zimbabwe focuses on convenience, fresh produce, and neighborhood retailing. Its franchise-driven model enables flexible expansion while maintaining international merchandising standards. Spar competes directly with TM and OK in urban centers, leveraging brand recognition and operational systems refined in South Africa and Europe.

4. Choppies Zimbabwe(Now Pintail (owned by Raj Modi)
Choppies exited the Zimbabwean market in late 2024/early 2025 due to a hostile economic environment, including unfavourable exchange rate policies and competition from the informal sector. The 30-store chain is being taken over by Pintail (owned by Raj Modi) for $260,000. The stores are being rebranded, with many becoming Sai Mart. Though it has restructured operations in recent years, the brand remains associated with value retailing. Its discount-driven model appeals to lower- and middle-income shoppers seeking affordability amid inflation.

5. Food Lovers Market Zimbabwe
Positioned as a premium fresh-produce retailer, Food Lovers Market caters to higher-income urban consumers. Known for imported goods, specialty items, and quality presentation, it differentiates itself from mass-market chains. Its model relies on consistent supply chains and strong forex access to maintain premium inventory standards.

6. Gain Cash & Carry
A major wholesale retailer, Gain Cash & Carry supplies bulk groceries and household goods to small businesses and informal traders. Its warehouse-style format supports Zimbabwe’s informal retail ecosystem, making it a critical link between manufacturers and township retailers.

7. N Richards Group
One of Zimbabwe’s largest privately owned wholesale and retail groups, N Richards supplies supermarkets, tuckshops, and independent traders nationwide. Its scale in distribution gives it significant pricing leverage and national reach, reinforcing its strategic importance beyond storefront retail.

8. Metro Peech & Browne
Founded in Bulawayo, Metro Peech & Browne operates supermarkets and wholesale outlets across southern Zimbabwe. Metro Peech & Browne Wholesalers is a major Zimbabwean wholesale company founded in 2001, headquartered in Harare. It operates 17 locations across the country, supplying groceries, liquor, hardware, and basic commodities.

9. Mahommed Mussa Wholesalers
A longstanding wholesale operator, Mahommed Mussa plays a key role in bulk distribution of groceries and fast-moving consumer goods. It services retailers across urban and peri-urban markets, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s supply chain backbone.

10. Trade Centre (Mutare)
Trade Centre is a major eastern Zimbabwe retailer and wholesaler serving Manicaland province. Its regional dominance highlights the importance of localized retail powerhouses outside Harare and Bulawayo.

11. Bon Marché
Positioned toward the upper-middle-income segment, Bon Marché offers premium groceries and imported products. Its brand focuses on quality, store experience, and niche consumer appeal in select urban locations. Bon Marché is a prominent, up-market grocery store chain in Zimbabwe, operated as a premium brand of OK Zimbabwe Limited. It has multiple locations, primarily serving high-density suburbs in Harare (e.g., Borrowdale, Avondale, Chisipite) and has recently expanded to Marondera.

12. Food World
Food World is Zimbabwe’s premier independently-owned supermarket group. Food World operates as a value-focused supermarket chain serving middle-income communities. It competes on pricing and accessibility, particularly in high-density suburbs.

13. Westend Supermarkets
Westend Supermarket (often referred to as Westend Foodworld Investments) is a retail entity operating in Zimbabwe, with specific locations in Harare and potentially other areas. Westend has expanded steadily in recent years, targeting residential growth corridors. It blends grocery retail with household essentials, appealing to community-based shoppers.

14. Electrosales Hardware & Retail
Operating at the intersection of hardware and general retail, Electrosales serves both construction markets and household consumers, broadening Zimbabwe’s formal retail diversity beyond groceries.

15. Edgars Stores Zimbabwe
Although apparel-focused, Edgars remains one of Zimbabwe’s largest formal retail brands. Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, it operates clothing stores nationwide and reflects the diversification of Zimbabwe’s broader retail landscape beyond food.