Casino Group sells Cameroonian subsidiary BAO Cash & Carry to 2S Retail
Deal preserves brand and jobs, while new owner plans gradual expansion.
CAMEROON – French retail conglomerate Casino Group has finalized the sale of its Cameroonian arm, 3C Cameroun, to 2S Retail, a recently established local company led by entrepreneur Wilson Jonte.
The agreement, confirmed in a press release on December 31, 2025, transfers ownership of the entire BAO Cash & Carry network, which includes five integrated stores in Douala and two franchises in Nkongsamba and Limbé.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Casino Group will continue supplying the stores with its private-label products during the transition period.
2S Retail has pledged to maintain the brand’s low-price strategy and retain all existing employees, while planning to consolidate the business throughout 2026 before beginning expansion in 2027.
Wilson Jonte, who joined Casino in 2017 and previously served as CFO and Deputy Managing Director of 3C Cameroun, will take charge of turning around a business that has struggled since its 2018 launch.
The subsidiary underwent restructuring in January 2024, converting unpaid debts into equity and writing off US$6.9 million to cover accumulated losses, leaving a reduced share capital of US$3.9 million.
Casino Group chose to sell to 2S Retail rather than an external buyer to keep the network intact, rejecting an offer from the prominent Fadil family that focused primarily on the flagship Bassa store in Douala, valued at US$1.6 million and generating US$17.7 million in revenue in 2023.
The decision comes as Casino continues to adjust its international operations, including recent openings such as the first Géant store in Yemen in November 2025 and the re-entry of Monoprix into Mauritius in partnership with Groupe Aldis in December 2025.
In Morocco, Casino and H&S Invest Holding plan to open 210 Franprix and Monoprix convenience stores by 2035, while in Egypt the first Monoprix store is scheduled to launch in early 2026 at New Cairo’s UBL Mall through local partner TMT.
Cameroon’s retail market is led by local brands Santa Lucia and Dôvv in terms of recognition, closely followed by international players like Carrefour, Casino, and Super U, while traditional grocery retailers remain dominant but modern supermarkets are steadily gaining ground.
Competition in the sector is increasing, with both local and international chains offering competitive pricing and a focus on locally sourced products, such as Carrefour’s 40 percent locally produced food items, supporting small and medium enterprises.
Modern retail is attracting middle- and high-income urban consumers, creating pressure on traditional grocers and prompting existing chains to expand their footprint and diversify offerings.
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