Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSNL), operator of the Shoprite franchise in Nigeria, has dismissed rumours of a shutdown, assuring that it remains committed to operating in the country. In a statement, the company, now supported by new investors, explained that it is carrying out a comprehensive business model reset to adapt to Nigeria’s current economic realities. “The former business model, inherited after the company’s acquisition, heavily relied on large store formats, imports, and high overheads. “This model is no longer viable in the face of Nigeria’s current economic climate, which includes exchange rate volatility, rising inflation, and constrained liquidity,” the statement reads. According to the firm, the new business model was designed to become less dependent on imported products, saying that 80 per cent of its products are sourced in the country. It further explained that the new model would stabilise operations and reposition the business for long-term growth. “This reset is built on several key pillars: local supply chains, with over 80% of products now sourced in Nigeria,” it added. The firm’s Chief Strategy Officer, Bunmi Adeleye, described the present process of the business as a rebuilding phase, stressing that the business outlook is targeted to become more local.