Meet the founders behind Nigeria’s largest supermarket chains

Nigeria’s supermarket industry has evolved from a handful of neighbourhood grocery stores into a multi-billion-naira retail ecosystem serving millions of consumers every day. Behind this transformation are a group of entrepreneurs and business leaders who have redefined how Nigerians shop, introducing modern retail formats, organised supply chains and customer-focused experiences in an increasingly competitive market.

From family-owned businesses that began as single storefronts to retail giants operating dozens of outlets across the country, these founders and managing directors have built brands that now shape consumer spending, create thousands of jobs and support local manufacturers and farmers. Their businesses have weathered economic downturns, currency volatility, rising inflation and shifting consumer preferences while continuing to expand into new cities and communities.

Prince Ebeano: Sunday Egede and David Ojei

Sunday Egede and David Ojei have built one of Nigeria’s most recognizable retail brands through resilience, discipline and an unwavering belief in entrepreneurship. Although widely referred to as brothers, their relationship is rooted in family ties. Egede is Ojei’s maternal uncle. Yet, the pair have long described each other as brothers and friends, reflecting a partnership built on trust rather than titles.

Egede’s entrepreneurial journey began in the early 1990s when he sold foodstuffs from a tiny room in Isolo, Lagos, using a wooden partition to separate his shop from his sleeping area. His determination laid the foundation for a thriving wholesale and retail business. Ojei followed a different path. After completing university and the National Youth Service Corps, he briefly worked in private security before leaving paid employment in 1998 to pursue business. Despite losing his first trading capital, he rebuilt, opened a provision store in Shomolu, and steadily expanded.

In 2009, the pair formalised their partnership, creating Prince Ebeano Supermarket. Today, the business stands as one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous retail chains while providing employment opportunities for hundreds of young Nigerians. In December 2021, Prince Ebeano extended its footprint internationally by opening a store in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The chain currently operates 9 stores.

Roban Stores: Sir Robert O. Anwatu

Sir Robert O. Anwatu did not set out to build one of southeastern Nigeria’s recognised retail and hospitality businesses. Trained as an accountant, his career began in banking and public accounting before he traded balance sheets for shop shelves. After completing his National Youth Service Corps in Benin, Anwatu launched his entrepreneurial journey in 1985 with a small gift shop known as Robnat Gift.

Two years later, the business was incorporated as Ultimate Gift Ltd., marking the beginning of a steady expansion. By 1989, the company had opened a second outlet in Warri before relocating operations to Enugu in 1990. The business evolved again in 1999 when Ultimate Gift was rebranded as Roban Stores. That same year, Anwatu founded Roban Group, which would grow into a diversified enterprise spanning retail and hospitality through Roban Stores and Roban Hotels.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Anwatu built experience in finance, working at Union Bank then known as Barclays Bank between 1976 and 1977 before joining Charles Cole and Co., a certified public accounting firm in Little Rock, Arkansas, from 1982 to 1983. His academic background includes both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accountancy from the University of Arkansas. Beyond business, Anwatu has maintained an active presence in public service and civic leadership. A Knight of the Good Shepherd, he has served on Enugu State’s Local Economic Empowerment Programme (LEEMP) advisory committee, led the Enugu Chamber of Commerce as president, and also served as president of the Rotary Club of New Haven. Roban Stores now operates 10 outlets.

SPAR Nigeria: Haresh Keswani

Haresh Keswani is the founder and Group Managing Director of Artee Group, the diversified consumer business behind SPAR Nigeria, one of the country’s largest supermarket chains. Since establishing Artee Group in 1998 as a wholesale business, Keswani has transformed it into a major player in Nigeria’s retail, real estate, manufacturing and shopping mall sectors.

Under his leadership, Artee Group secured the master franchise for SPAR International, introducing the global supermarket brand to Nigeria and expanding it into a network of more than 15 hypermarkets and supermarkets across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities. Through SPAR Nigeria, the company serves millions of consumers with groceries, fresh produce, household goods, electronics and lifestyle products, helping shape the country’s modern retail landscape.

Beyond supermarkets, Keswani has driven Artee Group’s expansion into shopping mall development, opening its first mall in Port Harcourt in 2014 and pursuing additional projects nationwide. The group has also diversified its retail portfolio through partnerships with Dubai-based Landmark Group, bringing brands including Babyshop, Lifestyle and Splash to Nigeria. SPAR Nigeria currently operates 16 stores under the Artee Group umbrella.

For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the expansion of these retail chains means greater access to organised retail, competitive pricing and locally sourced products. As these founders continue to invest in new stores and supply chain infrastructure, they create jobs and support local manufacturers and farmers, even as the naira faces continued pressure and inflation remains elevated.