Global retail standards are meeting local production at Sawa City in Kigali, where SPAR International is offering shoppers a retail experience featuring Kuku Yacu, a locally produced chicken brand. Produced by Avipro, Kuku Yacu provides fresh, affordable, and quality poultry products while supporting local value chains and sustainable production, according to the brand partners. Blending global standards with local relevance Since opening its first store in Rwanda in April 2025, SPAR has focused on maintaining the same quality and service standards found in its international outlets, while adapting to the local market through partnerships with Rwandan suppliers, as per the firm. “From the start, our goal has been to deliver the same trusted SPAR quality customers’ experience globally, while adapting to the Rwandan market by working closely with local farmers and suppliers,” said Pritchard Chigowe Tinashe, Operations Manager at SPAR Sawa City. Growth, innovation, and sustainability The Sawa City store represents the beginning of SPAR’s broader expansion plans in Rwanda. Alongside store growth, the retailer has invested in improved layouts, upgraded technology, and environmentally responsible operations. “We are proud to operate an electric vehicle fleet for our deliveries and logistics, which helps reduce our environmental impact while improving efficiency,” Tinashe said, noting that sustainability is a key pillar of SPAR’s long-term strategy in Rwanda. A strategic partnership with Avipro A major highlight of SPAR’s fresh food offering is its partnership with Avipro Rwanda, a fully integrated poultry company based in Bugesera District, Eastern Province. “Avipro operates across the entire poultry value chain in Rwanda, from breeding and processing to distribution, which allows us to maintain strict quality standards while keeping poultry affordable,” said Toochukwo Chido, Country Manager of Avipro Rwanda. Kuku Yacu: affordable, fresh, and Made in Rwanda Kuku Yacu was developed to make high-quality poultry accessible to all Rwandans. The brand offers a wide range of fresh and frozen products, including whole chickens, various cuts, and ready-to-cook options designed for convenience, according to Avipro Rwanda. “Kuku Yacu was created to make safe, high-quality poultry accessible to every Rwandan,” Chido said. “Through modern retail spaces like SPAR, we are able to offer fresh, frozen, and value-added products at prices that remain affordable.” Food safety and cold-chain excellence Food safety and freshness remain central to the Kuku Yacu promise, its producer observed. Products are handled through a carefully managed cold-chain system, from processing to storage and distribution. Fresh poultry is sold within strict shelf-life limits, while frozen products are stored at controlled temperatures to preserve quality. “Our cold-chain system ensures that products remain fresh from the processing plant to the shelf, and we never display poultry that does not meet our freshness standards,” Chido stated. Innovation through value-added products Responding to growing consumer demand for convenience, the company said, Kuku Yacu has introduced marinated and ready-to-cook products, including wings, strips, brochettes, and lollipops. These offerings provide variety and ease of preparation while maintaining the same safety and hygiene standards. Meanwhile, the partnership between SPAR and Avipro is helping transform the poultry shopping experience in Rwanda. Clean, organised, and hygienic retail environments offer customers confidence and comfort, setting a new benchmark for modern food retail. Customers welcome a new retail experience powered by SPAR Customers at SPAR International have praised the store’s convenience, cleanliness, and product variety. “I like shopping at SPAR because I can always find the products I want, and the environment is calm, clean, and well organised,” said Yirgalem Kidanewold, a regular customer. Another shopper, Jean Luc Abayo, highlighted the ease of the shopping experience. “Shopping at SPAR is convenient and stress-free. The prices are fixed, the store is very clean, and you can quickly pick what you need and go.” Looking ahead With its presence at Sawa City, SPAR International, together with Avipro’s Kuku Yacu, is playing a key role in helping shape Rwanda’s modern retail sector. Through strong local partnerships, sustainable practices, and customer-focused innovation, the collaboration is helping make high-quality poultry more accessible while raising standards across the retail industry.
