Quickmart Limited

Quickmart Limited is Kenya's second-largest supermarket chain with 60 branches across 16 counties and over 7,000 employees, known for its black-and-red branding and 24-hour operations at many Nairobi outlets. The retailer was founded in 2006 in Nakuru by the late businessman John Kinuthia as a family business, initially operating a single branch. John Kinuthia died in 2016, leaving management to his family. His son Duncan Kinuthia took over leadership in 2010 and grew the chain to four branches by 2014. Peter Kagiri (also known as Peter Kang'iri) joined the company in 2013 as a senior consultant and is credited with the retailer's rapid expansion. In 2019 Quickmart merged with Tumaini Self Service Limited (13 branches) to form the current Quickmart brand, with Mauritius-based private equity firm Adenia Partners becoming the majority shareholder through its Kenyan subsidiary Sokoni Retail Kenya. Following the collapse of Nakumatt, Tuskys, and Uchumi, and Botswana-based Choppies' withdrawal from Kenya, Quickmart acquired many of the vacated retail spaces to fuel its expansion. The company's strategy emphasises homegrown market insight and connection with Kenyan consumers. Duncan Kinuthia, while remaining a key figure at Quickmart, has also founded Basic-Make It Easy, a pioneering strip-mall real estate developer (launched 2021) that has delivered projects in Thome, Kileleshwa, Nyali, and Narok, many of which host Quickmart anchor stores.