KIGALI, September 13, 2025 — Coopérative U is planting its flag in a new African country: Rwanda. The independent retail cooperative has signed a partnership with the French group Duval, which is established in the country. The first U Express store is set to open in early 2026 in Kigali, inside a new shopping center—the largest in the country—Inzovu Mall [27,000 m²], owned by the Duval Group. The two partners plan to open 10 additional stores over the next five years, spread across various cities in Rwanda.
“This partnership with the Duval Group is another important milestone in the strong development of our cooperative, including internationally,” said Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U. “With the arrival of U stores in Rwanda, consumers will benefit from our commercial promise: quality products at affordable prices.”
Duval Group: A Vast Conglomerate
“Inzovu Mall reflects our vision: to undertake with and for the territories, by creating shared value,” said Louis-Victor Duval, CEO of the Duval Group. “Through this partnership and the upcoming opening of the U brand in Rwanda, we aim to offer customers easier access to quality products, support the upskilling of local talent, and actively contribute to the country’s growth momentum.”
This family-owned group, founded 30 years ago by Éric Duval, operates in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its wide-ranging activities include real estate, finance, insurance, food, golf course management, shopping centers, large-scale retail, renewable energy, and more. The company employs 6,000 people and generates €1 billion in annual revenue.
On the African continent, U-branded stores are already present in Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea.
https://thecooperator.news/rwandan-coffee-farmers-to-receive-50-percent-fertiliser-subsidy/
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