South Africa, Jan. 8 -- Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 14% of the world's population and by 2030, the region's population will surpass that of China. The way consumers shop in the region is ever-changing and evolving, with a mix of modern and ancient, formal and informal.

Retailing performance is driven by various factors, including economic growth, socio-political stability and a rising middle class.

Parallel to this, improvements in the ease of doing business and the collapse of former regional players like East Africa's Nakumatt is giving room to new entrants.

South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are key markets in value terms, while the industry continues to further modernise in promising markets such as Cote d'Ivoire.

With a projected ...