Retail in 2024: The big picture
In 2024, Egypt’s retail landscape evolved within a complex macroeconomic environment shaped by persistent inflation, foreign currency shortages, and continued depreciation of the Egyptian Pound. These pressures were compounded by geopolitical instabilities, including disruptions to Suez Canal revenues, which further constrained government fiscal capacity and disrupted import supply chains.
Competition intensifies between local and international players
Retail experienced heightened competition in 2024, as local and international players responded to changing consumer dynamics and economic constraints. Local brands gained momentum by leveraging affordable pricing, deep cultural relevance, and government support through subsidies and investment incentives.
E-commerce gains ground through digital innovation and convenience
Retail e-commerce continued to expand rapidly, supported by broader internet access, widespread smartphone adoption, and a proliferation of digital payment options. Consumers – particularly younger, digital-native shoppers – gravitated towards online platforms that offer greater convenience, competitive pricing, and a wide selection of products.
What next for retail?
Egypt’s retail sector is set to experience sustained growth, propelled by the expansion of chained retail formats and supportive policy frameworks. Key to this momentum is the government’s "golden licence" initiative, which simplifies investment processes for foreign companies and has already catalysed local manufacturing expansion by multinationals such as Samsung, Beko, and Hisense.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Retail industry in Egypt with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Convenience Stores
- Discounters
- Hypermarkets
- Supermarkets
- Traditional Grocery Retailers
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers
- Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers
- Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
- Home and Garden Specialist Retailers
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Warehouse Clubs
- Direct Selling
- Homeshopping
- Vending
If you're in the Retail industry in Egypt, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Retail in Egypt report includes:
- Analysis of key retail trends
- Detailed segmentation of offline and online retail sales
- Historic channel sizes (retail value sales, outlet counts, and selling space)
- Company and brand market shares (retail value sales and outlet counts)
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Retail in Egypt?
- Which are the leading retailers in Retail in Egypt?
- How are products distributed in Retail in Egypt?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- How significant are discounters and private label in Egypt?
- To what extent are sales shifting towards digital channels?
- What is the long-term outlook for bricks-and-mortar?
- How is macroeconomic and political uncertainty affecting the retail industry?
- What types of retailers are seeing the fastest growth in digital sales?
- What is the future of retail?
Retail in Egypt
Retail in 2024: The big picture
Competition intensifies between local and international players
E-commerce gains ground through digital innovation and convenience
What next for retail?
Informal retail
Opening hours for physical retail
Seasonality
Holy Month of Ramadan
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Christmas Break
Back-to-School
Mother’s Day
Valentine’s Day
Black Friday
DISCLAIMER
Convenience Retailers in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Convenience retailers expand on the back of evolving consumer habits
Circle K maintains leadership through strategic expansion and innovation
ADNOC Distribution strengthens its footprint via forecourt expansion
Urbanisation and infrastructure projects will support market penetration
Retailers respond to digital disruption with technological upgrades
Privatisation efforts may accelerate market consolidation
Supermarkets in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Supermarkets maintain leadership in modern grocery retail
New pricing regulations increase transparency but pressure margins
Carrefour sustains leadership through partnerships and innovation
Urbanisation and infrastructure to support supermarket expansion
Market competition set to intensify with new entrants
E-commerce and digital integration to enhance customer value
Hypermarkets in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Hypermarket investment slows as retailers shift to smaller formats
Majid Al Futtaim retains leadership through strategic site development
Omnichannel strategies enhance competitiveness amid digital disruption
Improved economic conditions expected to support hypermarket growth
Strategic partnerships to accelerate experiential retail expansion
Digitalisation and sustainability to define future innovation
Discounters in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Discounters thrive as consumers seek affordability amid economic pressures
Kayzon consolidates leadership through strategic expansion and localisation
New hybrid formats and regional players reshape the competitive landscape
Discounters expected to maintain momentum as value remains paramount
Rising competition and digital integration will shape future strategies
B2B integration and fintech innovation support ecosystem expansion
Small Local Grocers in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Small grocers maintain dominance despite mounting pressures
MaxAB accelerates digital transformation in traditional retail
Local sourcing and agility support resilience in uncertain times
Small grocers expected to remain dominant in fragmented landscape
Fintech-driven innovation to enhance operational efficiency
Neighbourhood embeddedness to remain a competitive advantage
General Merchandise Stores in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Department stores continue to decline amid economic strain
Variety stores sustain performance through affordable value offerings
Public sector initiatives aim to revitalise iconic department store brands
Department stores may benefit from tourism and infrastructure projects
Local sourcing and cultural positioning to strengthen competitiveness
Digital channels to play a central role in channel recovery
Apparel and Footwear Specialists in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Retailers adjust strategies amid rising inflation and shrinking incomes
Second-hand and upcycled fashion gain momentum
Concrete Fashion Group strengthens position through expansion and rebranding
Economic recovery and infrastructure growth to support expansion
Local garment manufacturing to anchor long-term growth
Market entry and digital innovation to fuel competitive intensity
Appliances and Electronics Specialists in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Retailers experience growth despite economic and pricing pressures
Regulatory reforms reshape pricing practices and promote competition
B.TECH strengthens market position through experiential retail and partnerships
Digital adoption and smart infrastructure to drive growth
New import regulations to stimulate local smartphone production
Intensified competition from global and regional players
Home Products Specialists in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Local markets gain traction as consumers seek affordable homeware
Oriental Weavers leads with cultural appeal and sustainable innovation
Pet products segment expands as pet ownership rises
Home product retailers to diversify offerings amid changing lifestyles
Sustainability to become a key retail differentiator
Premium retailers embrace experiential design to deepen engagement
Health and Beauty Specialists in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Pharmacies struggle amid medicine shortages and pricing volatility
Market reshaped by the exit of international beauty brands
Eyewear transformed by landmark retail merger
Omnichannel expansion and wellness trends to sustain growth
Strengthened supply chains to support pharmacy modernisation
Beauty specialists face intensified competition from local disruptors
Direct Selling in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Social commerce emerges as a dominant sales strategy
Established players expand networks and product assortments
Direct selling expands into underserved rural and peri-urban areas
Direct selling to benefit from local sourcing and ethical repositioning
Omnichannel strategies to define future success
Education and training to elevate professionalism and retention
Retail E-Commerce in Egypt
KEY DATA FINDINGS
E-commerce continues expanding, driven by digital access and convenience
Social media platforms reshape customer engagement and product discovery
Market leaders compete on value, partnerships, and localisation
E-commerce expected to remain the fastest-growing retail channel
Social commerce and livestreaming to transform the user journey
Fragmentation to persist despite investment and innovation
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Retail
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- Convenience Stores
- Forecourt Retailers
- Supermarkets
- Hypermarkets
- Discounters
- Warehouse Clubs
- Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists
- Small Local Grocers
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- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Apparel and Footwear Specialists
- Appliances and Electronics Specialists
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- Home Improvement and Gardening Stores
- Homewares and Home Furnishing Stores
- Pet Shops and Superstores
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- Beauty Specialists
- Pharmacies
- Optical Goods Stores
- Health and Personal Care Stores
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- Bags and Luggage Specialists
- Jewellery and Watch Specialists
- Sports Goods Stores
- Traditional Toys and Games Stores
- Other Non-Grocery Retailers
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- Fashion Vending
- Health and Beauty Vending
- Appliances and Electronics Vending
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- Alcoholic Drinks Vending
- Hot Drinks Vending
- Soft Drinks Vending
- Tobacco Products Vending
- Foods Vending
- Home Products Vending
- Other Products Vending
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- Apparel and Footwear Direct Selling
- Personal Accessories Direct Selling
- Eyewear Direct Selling
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- Beauty and Personal Care Direct Selling
- Consumer Health Direct Selling
- Tissue and Hygiene Direct Selling
- Appliances and Electronics Direct Selling
- Drinks and Tobacco Direct Selling
- Foods Direct Selling
- Home Products Direct Selling
- Other Products Direct Selling
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- Apparel and Footwear E-Commerce
- Personal Accessories E-Commerce
- Eyewear E-Commerce
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- Beauty and Personal Care E-Commerce
- Consumer Health E-Commerce
- Tissue and Hygiene E-Commerce
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- Consumer Appliances E-Commerce
- Consumer Electronics E-Commerce
- Toys and Games E-Commerce
- Drinks and Tobacco E-Commerce
- Foods E-Commerce
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- Home Care E-Commerce
- Home and Garden E-Commerce
- Pet Care E-Commerce
- Other Products E-Commerce
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- First-Party (1P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Third-Party (3P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Grocery E-Commerce
- General Merchandiser E-Commerce
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist E-Commerce
- Appliances and Electronics Specialist E-Commerce
- Home Products Specialist E-Commerce
- Health and Beauty Specialist E-Commerce
- Leisure and Personal Goods Specialist E-Commerce
- Other E-Commerce Retailers
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Retail
Retail is the sale of new and used goods to consumers from a business for personal or household consumption from retail outlets, kiosks, market stalls, vending, direct selling and e-commerce. Retail is the aggregation of Retail Offline and Retail E-Commerce. Excludes specialist retailers of motor vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle parts. Also excludes fuel sales, foodservice sales, rental transactions, and wholesale sales (e.g. Cash and Carry). Sales value excluding or including VAT/Sales Tax. Retail also excludes the informal retail sector. Informal retailing is retail trade which is not declared to the tax authorities. Informal retailing encompasses (a) sales generated by unregistered and unlicensed retailers, i.e. retailers operating illegally, and (b) any proportion of sales generated by a registered and licensed retailer that is not declared to the tax authorities. Unregistered and unlicensed retailers operate predominantly (although not exclusively) as street hawkers or operate open market stalls, as these channels are harder for the authorities to monitor than permanent outlets. Activities in the illegal market, which is usually understood to refer to trade in illegal, counterfeit or stolen merchandise, are included within our definition of informal retailing. Activities in the “grey market”, which is usually understood to refer to trade in legal merchandise that is sold through unauthorized channels – for example cigarettes bought legally in another country, legally imported, but sold at lower prices than in authorized channels – will be included as informal retailing if no tax is paid on sale by the retailer. However if the retailer pays tax – for example on cigarettes bought legally in another country but sold at a lower price than standard – the sale is included within formal retail.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Retail research and analysis database.
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