NAIROBI, Kenya Quickmart is heading to the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The supermarket chain plans to offer 2 billion existing shares to investors. The shares represent 50 per cent of the company.
The proposed listing is expected to open around September 30, 2026. It remains subject to regulatory approval.
Half of the Business Offered
The shares are being sold by Sokoni Retail Kenya Limited. It is Quickmart’s sole shareholder. No new shares will be issued by Quickmart. The retailer will also receive no money from the sale.
The proceeds will instead go to the selling shareholder. An over-allotment option of up to 15 per cent of the offer shares has also been proposed.
That could increase the offer to 2.3 billion shares. It would also raise the stake sold to about 57.5 per cent if fully exercised.
The final price and other terms are yet to be set out. They are expected to be detailed in the Information Memorandum.
A Growing Retail Giant
Quickmart was founded in Nakuru in 2006. It now has 72 stores across 16 counties. About 35 of those outlets operate around the clock.
The retailer recorded about five million customer transactions each month in the first half of 2026. It also has about 2.5 million Q-Points members.
Quickmart reported Sh50.4 billion in revenue for 2025. Adjusted profit after tax stood at Sh1.7 billion.
Revenue for the first six months of 2026 reached Sh27.3 billion. Revenue had grown at a compound annual rate of 18.4 per cent between 2021 and 2025.
More Stores Planned
Expansion is expected to remain a major focus. Quickmart is targeting 10 to 15 new stores each year. The company aims to move beyond 100 outlets over the medium term.
Growth is also expected through online sales and delivery partnerships. Greater operating efficiency has also been outlined.
The retailer plans to fund this expansion mainly through cash generated by the business.
Investors Eye the Listing
For investors, the planned offer would open ownership of a major Kenyan retailer. Quickmart Group CEO Peter Kang’iri said the listing would mark a major step for the company.
“Listing on the NSE will give Kenyans the opportunity to own a share of a business they already shop in,” Kang’iri said.
The company also plans to target a dividend payout of at least 80 per cent of annual profit after tax. Payments are expected twice a year.
The proposed dividend remains subject to business performance, capital needs and board approval. An initial dividend for the second half of 2026 is expected in the first half of 2027.
The listing would add one of Kenya’s largest supermarket chains to the public market. It would also give the NSE another major consumer-facing company as Quickmart enters its next phase of expansion.
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