*OK Zimbabwe and Choppies are closing their stores in Zimbabwe. Here's What you need to know:* *The Zimbabwean Retail & Sales Market* Zimbabwe comprises of a formal retail Market that has a few players, and a majority big players are foreign owned businesses i.e. OK & Choppies. It is however a market broadly saturated by the Informal Retail Market players of unregulated street vendors, tuck shops, markets, and also the majority local formal trader quick shops, that source from cheap suppliers (Bales/mabhero), hence offer cheap prices than the top brass retailers such as OK & Choppies. *What is going on?* OK Zimbabwe has already closed five branches, resulting in hundreds of job losses. The company cited difficult operating conditions as the reason for the closures. Choppies, on the other hand, has announced its exit from Zimbabwe and is selling its stores. The company cited competition and other operational challenges as reasons for its departure. The stores will be rebranded as Sai Mart after being acquired by Pin Tail Trading owner, and Deputy Minister of Industry Raj Modi. Both OK Zimbabwe and Choppies have faced significant challenges in the Zimbabwean market, that including increased competition, adapting challenges to the economic dynamic in Zimbabwe, and other operational and Market challenges. These factors have made it difficult for the companies to maintain profitable operations, leading to their decision to close or sell their stores. *What could've been done to save them?* The solution that offered an easy way out, was to regulate the Market. Control where all players source from, by introducing a standards and quality policy, swallowing the informal trader into the formal space. *Challenges to solutions* The solution sought to change the Zimbabwean market as opposed to adapting to it. As it is that most households in Zimbabwe rely on the Informal traders and the traders that source from cheap suppliers i.e. mabhero. They are a bigger source of income, employment, affordable clothing and food, as well they tend to accept the local currency at street rate, protecting them from forex market fluctuations, subsequently the consumer too. Share information 🫵