Ceca-Gadis to close 43 stores amid financial struggles in Gabon
Gabon’s largest supermarket chain reduces its footprint from 103 to 60 outlets.
GABON – Ceca-Gadis, Gabon’s biggest supermarket operator, has announced plans to shut 43 of its current 103 stores due to ongoing financial difficulties.
The company, which once operated more than 200 outlets nationwide, has seen revenues decline steadily since 2018 when government protections that had been in place since 1967 were lifted.
Last year, Ceca-Gadis ran 111 stores, but by late 2025, that number had fallen to 103, highlighting the challenges it faces in maintaining its network.
The closures are expected to affect grocery distribution in regions including Estuaire, Haut-Ogooué, Ngounié, and Nyanga, potentially limiting access to certain products.
In February 2024, the Gabonese government purchased a 35% stake in Groupe Ceca-Gadis through the Caisse de Dépôts et Consignations, aiming to support the supply of local products and strengthen national food self-sufficiency.
Despite the government’s involvement, Ceca-Gadis has struggled with inefficient management and rising operational costs, particularly due to the poor state of roads outside major cities.
Gabon, although one of Africa’s wealthier nations in terms of per capita income, has attracted limited foreign investment in its retail sector, leaving local operators to navigate logistical and market challenges largely on their own.
French supermarket chain Carrefour entered the market through its partner Prix Import, opening its first store in December 2021 and rebranding eight existing Prix Import outlets in 2022.
Ceca-Gadis has collaborated with Intermarché for its CKdo stores in Libreville, Port-Gentil, and São Tomé, while Casino operates a small presence in Gabon via its partner MIM (Mercure).
Other significant retail chains include Casino Supermarkets, Géant Casino-Mbolo, San Gel, Score, SuperGros, and Viga Supermarkets, with most sales concentrated in Libreville and Port-Gentil.
The recent store closures mark a continued contraction for Ceca-Gadis, reflecting long-term financial pressures and the difficulty of sustaining a nationwide supermarket chain in Gabon’s current market.
The government’s stake provides some support, but analysts suggest that structural challenges in distribution, infrastructure, and management will continue to affect the company’s performance.
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