JUMIA Emerges Best Retail Launch of the Year

JUMIA, Nigeria’s leading online shopping destination, won “The Best Retail Launch of the Year” at the World Retail Congress in Paris on Wednesday.

Through this distinction, JUMIA is the first African company to have won the most important retail award worldwide.

They did this ahead of all other offline, online and developed market retailers of the world, other nominees in this category were Hedonism Wines, Presso, Quem disse, Berenice?, t.riciclo and Zalora. 

The event is run by the publishing company EMAP and discusses issues affecting the international retail industry; covering core retail in all segments issues as well as social, economic, political and ethical concern.

Previous winners include top brands such as ASOS, Migros, NikeTown, Woolworths or Zappos.com. JUMIA offers their products online, via a mobile app or on cash delivery spots – leapfrogging traditional retail in Africa.

“We are delighted with the wide international reach of this year’s winners and that for the first time, we are presenting an award to an African retailer,” said Ian McGarrigle, chairman of the World Retail Congress.

According to World Retail Congress’s jury, JUMIA sets the highest benchmark when it comes to retailing in Africa: their excellency in online marketing, IT and operations are key drivers for JUMIA’s sharp growth rates and the company’s rising brand awareness throughout the whole of Africa.

Tunde Kehinde and Raphael Afaedor, co-founders of Jumia: “We owe this landmark fete to the Nigerian market who since day one have supported us all the way through the very encouraging feedback and patronage; we clearly wouldn’t be honored this way without them.

“This also shows that Jumia Nigeria has risen beyond the ranks and has gone far beyond a start-up company with even more greater heights yet to be achieved.

Amazingly, recently there was a poll by a notable organization for start-up’s in Nigeria and Jumia clearly out of that list, some more proof to that the market and industry players have come to recognize our position and impact we have made in this market. There are bigger plans for the customer and this will remain our focus”.

Jeremy Hodara, managing director African Internet Holdings: “This is a historic moment to us and I hope, also for the whole of Africa. When we started JUMIA last year we had the goal to enable safe, convenient and stress-free shopping experiences in Nigeria.

“Now one year later, we deliver products to hundred thousands of customers in over six countries every day. Only thanks to our incredible teams and partners, who made online shopping in Africa easy. This award makes us incredibly proud and reinforces us in what we do. We are number one in Nigeria now and we will continue to grow and deliver our products all across Africa.”

The World Retail Congress, part of i2i Events Group portfolio, was launched in 2007, to be a platform for senior retail executives to meet and discuss the most important topics affecting retailers across the world. It has been held in Barcelona (2007-9), Berlin (2010-11) and London (2012).

This year’s World Retail Congress was held in Paris from the 7th to the 9th of October and was attended by industry leaders from eBay, Tesco, Carrefour, Boots and many more.

On the other hand, and founded in June 2012 JUMIA is Nigeria’s number one shopping destination. Within one year, the website enjoys more than 100,000 unique visits daily, being the leading and most trafficked e-commerce website in Nigeria, with a daily subscriber base of more than 400,000 people.

JUMIA operates in five countries: Nigeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast,Egypt and Kenya with more countries to come.