Supermarket chain Carrefour has shut its Comet House outlet in Nairobi’s Central Business District, four years after opening the store seeking to challenge its well-established competitors.
The closure, effective October 31, comes as Kenya’s supermarket industry continues to be reshaped by fierce competition.
In a statement, Majid Al Futtaim, which operates the Carrefour franchise in Kenya, said the decision followed a regular review of its operations.
‘Majid Al Futtaim regularly reviews its operations to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our customers and the business,’ the Kenya management team said.
When Carrefour opened its Comet House branch along Monrovia Street on November 9, 2022, the move marked its return to Nairobi’s CBD after years of concentrating on shopping malls in the city’s suburbs.
According to data by market intelligence firm Sagaci Research, Carrefour controlled 14 percent of the retail market un 2025.
‘As part of this ongoing review, we have made the decision to close our Carrefour store at Comet House in Nairobi.’
The retailer sought to reassure customers that the closure did not signal a retreat from Kenya, where it continues to expand its operations.
‘Carrefour continues to operate 35 stores across Kenya, and we remain committed to serving our customers and supporting our long-term operations in the country,’ the statement added.
The company said it was supporting employees affected by the closure through the transition but did not disclose how many workers would be affected or whether they would be redeployed to other branches.
When Carrefour opened its Comet House branch along Monrovia Street on November 9, 2022, the move marked its return to Nairobi’s CBD after years of concentrating on shopping malls in the city’s suburbs.
The launch was accompanied by promotional offers, including discounts of up to 50 percent on selected products, as the retailer sought to attract shoppers and challenge established competitors operating in the city centre.
The outlet became Carrefour’s 19th store in Kenya at the time and stocked more than 9,000 product lines, including fresh produce, groceries, household goods and personal-care products.
Majid Al Futtaim said the store would serve customers who previously struggled to access Carrefour’s products while working in the CBD.
‘Kenya remains a key market in our expansion strategy, with many opportunities to grow our network across the country through physical stores and e-commerce offering,’ the company said at the time.
Four years later, however, the outlet has shut its doors, with the company yet to explain whether the decision was linked to sales performance, operating costs, competition, lease arrangements or a broader review of its store network.
The closure comes against the backdrop of a retail market increasingly dominated by a handful of large supermarket chains.
Data published by Business Daily on October 19, citing market intelligence firm Sagaci Research, showed that Naivas, Quickmart and Carrefour controlled a combined 60 percent of Kenya’s formal retail market in 2025.
Naivas commanded an estimated 31 percent share, followed by Quickmart at 15 percent and Carrefour at 14 percent.
The three chains have expanded aggressively as they seek to capture customers and retail space left vacant by the collapse of former industry heavyweights.