The sales in Uganda declined by 12 percent which is attributed to competition, supply chain challenges and some locations becoming unsustainable due to infrastructural and lease mix challenges.
Uchumi CEO Jonathan Ciano says these difficulties may now lead to the company divestiture and relocation to “already identified more promising locations in the coming financial year.”
“Though there was a general decline in inflation in the East African economies, the rate was still high and this translated in to lower unit consumption,” Ciano says.
Kenya sales also saw a marginal growth of two percent which management attributes to freezing of public spending, effects of devolution as well as high cost of living which affected customer tendency to spend.
Tanzania sales on the other hand grew by 10 percent.
“We also had the effect of investment in new branches in Kenya and Tanzania, which are yet to mature,” Ciano remained optimistic, “During the 2013/14 financial year, 8 new branches opened including Mombasa Moi Avenue branch, Juja branch, Kisumu branch, Maua branch, Mbale in Eastern Uganda and Segerea, Makumbusho and Shekilango in Dar es Salaam.”
By the close of the financial year Uchumi’s total branch network stood at 37.
Uchumi’s finance costs jumped to Sh64 billion compared to Sh16 billion in full year 2013 occasioned by new loan facilities from Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) and Kenya Commercial Bank.
Additionally, the retailer fully settled the Kenya’s government loan issued to it during receivership in 2006 upon payment of the last instalment of Sh31 million on 30 June 2014.
A dividend of 30 cents has been declared with book closure set on September 26, 2014.
Uchumi Group has however achieved cross listing in the stocks and securities exchanges in Nairobi in Kenya, Kigali in Rwanda, Kampala in Uganda during the year with listing in Dar-Tanzania being effected in August 2014.
“The Uchumi Group is expected to continue to grow in performance and business base as the new outlets mature and we have adopted cautious strategic growth approach in the Eastern African region, an initiative that will be fully supported by the impending Rights Issue and the positive effect of Cross Listing in the EAC countries,” Ciano said.