The competition between large stores and local shops was widely debated on the "Seneweb Eco" program this Sunday, February 22, 2026. Between organization, purchasing power and social proximity, the opinions of Yacine Diop, Momath Cissé and Mame Tamsir Niane intersected.

Mame Tamsir Niane, vice-president of Unacois Jappo, believes that the arrival of large retailers was initially a shock. "When they first opened, supermarkets caused problems for neighborhood shopkeepers." This situation is indirectly confirmed by Yacine Diop, commissioner of economic investigations, who highlights the advantage these chains offer. "Supermarkets are more likely to respect the prices set by the state, perhaps because they are more organized and their supply methods are different," says the deputy head of the Dakar Regional Trade Office.

This is in addition to "more stable contracts" and the existence of "accounting and legal services," says Ms. Diop.

In other words, while supermarkets have modern tools and structured supply chains, small shopkeepers have had to adapt. And according to Mame Tamsir Niane, this adaptation is underway. "Now, the shopkeepers are organized. Some have started to modernize their shops."

But competition is not limited to internal organization. Momath Cissé, vice-president of Ascosen, points out that the ultimate arbiter remains the consumer who "is guided by two things: purchasing power and geographical accessibility."

Regarding purchasing power, Mr. Cissé believes that supermarkets apply "a policy that protects purchasing power", particularly because "they deal directly with producers and have a low profit margin", with prices displayed.

Faced with this advantage in terms of price and transparency, Mame Tamsir Niane emphasizes social proximity, which he considers another competitive advantage. "The visibility of a large supermarket and that of a neighborhood shop are not the same," he acknowledges.

But local shops have an advantage that large chains don't. They "can give customers food on credit, which supermarkets can't do."

On the issue of price control, Yacine Diop, while highlighting the better organization of large stores, nevertheless points out that the rules are the same for everyone.