For forward-looking companies, these growing markets will be worth well over $1tr by 2020 and will offer access to millions of new customers.

Over the past 10 years, growth in Africa's GDP has surpassed worldwide averages, fueling optimism and a sense of progress among consumers on the continent. Consistently, African consumers shared phrases such as, "This generation has it much better than our parents' generation did," and "The economy is much better today." Urbanization is one factor driving progress and opportunity. As one young man said, "My life today is better than life was for my parents...they lived in villages, we live in cities. City life is much better: cities have amenities, more development, more knowledge." Although one finds less-optimistic consumer sentiment in regions that have experienced political turmoil over the past two years"”in North Africa for example"”the vast majority of Africans believe that tomorrow will be better than today.

Read Full Article


Keywords: retail supply chain, emerging markets, retail in Africa, Africa's middle class, Africa's consumer class