French retailer Casino has ended direct operations of its wholesale distribution business in Cameroon, the company said on Wednesday.
Casino has sold its subsidiary 3C Cameroun, operator of the BAO Cash & Carry network, to 2S Retail. The transaction, effective Dec. 31, covers seven stores: five company-owned outlets in Douala and two franchised locations in Nkongsamba and Limbe.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Casino said the sale reflects a shift in its international strategy toward local partnerships and franchise development. The group will continue supplying BAO Cash & Carry with its private-label products to ensure continuity of operations.
BAO Cash & Carry launched in Cameroon in 2018 and serves more than 3,000 professional customers, according to the company. Its client base includes traders, restaurateurs and resellers, as well as individual consumers, operating under a low-cost wholesale model.
The concept was introduced on March 28, 2018, with the opening of a store in Douala’s industrial zone, inaugurated by Commerce Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. At the time, it was presented as Casino’s first cash-and-carry format in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. The initial range included nearly 3,000 products, mainly food items, alongside a limited selection of non-food goods, supported by a low-cost operating structure and volume discounts.
Based on a model developed in South America, the format aimed to streamline supply chains for small traders and the restaurant sector.
At launch, Casino had announced plans to invest between 15 billion and 20 billion CFA francs to open nine additional warehouse stores if the pilot proved successful, with a target of creating about 150 direct jobs per store. Seven years later, the network remains limited in scale, as competition has intensified with the arrival of new chains and local operators, while consumer purchasing power has come under pressure.
The new owner, 2S Retail, said it will maintain the low-cost positioning and retain all employees, with no immediate changes planned. A source said the priority for 2026 is to consolidate the existing network, with a new expansion phase considered from 2027. The sale comes as Casino continues a broader restructuring, as the group pursues debt reduction and strategic refocusing through asset disposals amid ongoing financial pressure.
Amina Malloum
