Massmart, the owners of Game Retail Store in Uganda, has announced it is closing its Lugogo outlet and exiting the Ugandan Ugandan market.
Announcing the looming exit from the Ugandan market, Neville Hatfield, the Vice President of Merchandise at Game, revealed that Game hand Massmart had failed to attract buyers willing to invest in the retail store.
“Dear Valued Partner. We do hope that you are safe and well. In March 2021, Massmart, the owner of Game retail store in Uganda announced that following a review of its Game store portfolio in East and West Africa it was exploring the idea that store performance might improve under the management of investors and entrepreneurs with a better understanding of local market conditions,” wrote Hatfield.
“As a result, Massmart, together with the Game management team, initiated a process over a 12-month period to investigate, as a preferred option, the opportunity to sell our store in Uganda to local Investors. Unfortunately, this initiative has not yielded meaningful results.”
The Vice President of Merchandise at Game went on to say that the process of closing shop would begin but he was not certain when the store would officially close operations in the country.
“One possible way forward is now to consider closing our Game store in Uganda and we have therefore initiated potential store closure consultations with our staff members in the potentially affected stores,” noted Hatfield.
“From the very beginning of the process to explore alternative options for our store in Uganda we have been firmly committed, regardless of the decision taken, to honour our obligations to our staff members, customers and business partners, and we would like to assure you that this remains the case.”
For now, Hatfield continued, Game’s and Massmart’s focus will be ensuring “a transparent consultation process with our staff members and their representatives, after which we will update you about the agreed next steps.”
He added: “It is difficult to anticipate timing of the consultation process, but please be assured that we will revert lo you as soon as we have collective clarity on the way forward.”
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