Shoprite, other supermarkets closed in Malawi
Inspections reveal expired and poorly stored food products at major supermarkets.
SOUTH AFRICA – The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) closed two Shoprite supermarkets and several other shops as part of a continuing inspection campaign to enforce consumer protection standards.
The shutdown comes on the second day of operations, during which officials discovered expired goods, including salt, chilli sauce, and maize flour infested with weevils.
Inspectors also reported inadequate storage practices at Shoprite outlets in Blantyre and Lilongwe, which are operated by the South African firm Shoprite Holdings.
Bonnex Msowoya, MBS senior quality monitoring officer, said the shops met hygiene requirements but failed to remove expired products and properly store certain items.
He added that the bureau had temporarily closed the supermarkets due to the health risks posed by expired food to consumers and would allow reopening only after compliance.
During the inspections, officials found salt that expired in April 2024, maize flour past its expiry date of August 1, 2024, and torn packaging, while sugar was kept in poor conditions.
In Lilongwe, the bureau also closed three other major shops, including Ekhaya Farms Foods at Kanengo and two Panda Superstore branches, citing expired products and hygiene lapses.
Wazamazama Katatu, MBS communications officer, said the Lilongwe Old Town Shoprite was found storing expired baking flour in the back and displaying rotten fruits and vegetables on shelves.
The Panda Superstore locations at Area 12 and Area 49 were closed due to poor sanitation and hygiene standards.
The Ekhaya Farms Foods shop in Kanengo faced closure due to expired stock and unhygienic conditions in its backyard storage areas.
Katatu urged all affected outlets to address the violations promptly if they wish to resume operations.
Shoprite’s Struggles Beyond Malawi
Shoprite has faced challenges in other African markets, including Nigeria, where outlets in Ilorin and Ibadan were closed after the Kano branch shut in 2024.
The South African company sold its 26 Nigerian supermarkets to Persianas, a local shopping mall operator, in 2021 for US$73 million, while the Shoprite brand continued under a licensing agreement.
Persistent issues in Nigeria included reliance on imported goods, regulatory conflicts, currency depreciation, xenophobic unrest, and lower consumer spending during periods of inflation.
Other South African retailers such as Woolworths, Truworths, Mr Price, and Game have also exited Nigeria over the past decade after struggling to establish sustainable operations.
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