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Can you tell us the story of Cerise and how it became a Carrefour Market x Prix Import franchise in Gabon?%201.png?width=44&height=44&name=V3%20(3)%201.png){kind=small}
We've been in the family business for over 40 years with offline stores. Cerise was founded to bring modern retail to Gabon in partnership with Prix Import and Carrefour Market. As a franchise, we wanted to combine global retail standards with local knowledge, creating the first true online grocery store in the country.What makes Cerise unique in the Gabonese retail landscape?We’re the first in Gabon to offer a full online grocery experience, and also the first to offer it fast, we're aiming for under 20 minutes door to door, from fresh produce to household essentials, all available at the same prices as in-store. Our model combines the trusted Carrefour brand with the convenience of eCommerce. What opportunities and challenges do you see for grocery eCommerce in the region?There’s a huge opportunity to serve customers who want convenience but previously had no reliable online option. The challenge is building trust, educating the market, and ensuring logistics are reliable in an emerging retail environment. How are customer expectations changing when it comes to online grocery shopping in Gabon?Customers are quickly getting used to the convenience of shopping online. They expect fast delivery, accurate orders, and a smooth digital experience just like in more mature markets.What steps have you taken to meet those expectations and build customer loyalty?We’ve focused on reliability: accurate orders, fresh products, and clear delivery times. We also built loyalty through promotions and by ensuring the online and offline experience feels consistent. We're focused on improving our operations and dark stores so we can fulfil more and more customers from everyday consumers to B2B. What does success look like for Cerise over the next few years?Success means becoming the go-to grocery platform in Gabon, expanding our customer base, and proving that modern eCommerce can thrive in this region. We want to get to hundreds, and then thousands of orders per day whilst also maintaining a high level of service and quality. What were some of the biggest operational challenges you faced when scaling online grocery?Managing stock in real time and coordinating deliveries were major hurdles. Traditional systems weren’t designed for eCommerce, and scaling quickly added complexity. We also found costs very high when working with our previous technology set up and this did not scale well, we needed different solutions. How has technology helped you streamline or improve the way you run Cerise?The Native Commerce platform unified our website, warehouse, and delivery operations. This cut down on manual work, reduced errors, and gave us better visibility into every part of the business. I see your founder almost like our CTO, a key part of the team, in an area where we need the expertise and the know-how. Are there any specific features or tools that have had the biggest impact on your operations?Real-time inventory updates and delivery tracking have been game-changers. They help us avoid stockouts, reduce customer complaints, and keep our operations efficient. Overall the expertise combined with the technology is priceless, the team at Native Commerce knows exactly how to run a grocery business and this has really helped us at every stage. How did you approach the process of choosing a technology partner?We wanted more than a vendor, we needed a partner who understood retail operations. Native Commerce stood out because they had real experience running eCommerce at scale.What has stood out to you about working with the team?The team is responsive, practical, and hands-on. They didn’t just provide software; they guided us through setup, training, and adapting processes to our market. We value this and learn more each day about the potential and quality of your expertise and technology. How does the platform help you adapt to the pace of retail in your market?It’s flexible enough to handle the realities of an emerging market. We can update products quickly, manage delivery slots, and keep pace with changing customer demand. The team is also responsive to our product roadmap and specific needs which is appreciated. What are your ambitions for Cerise as a pioneer in Gabonese grocery eCommerce?We want to become the benchmark for online grocery in Gabon, setting the standard for service and reliability, and expanding to more regions.What role do you see innovation and technology playing in that future?Technology will be the backbone of our growth enabling us to scale efficiently, expand our offering, and keep improving the customer experience.What advice would you give to other retailers in emerging markets exploring eCommerce?Start with a strong partner who understands both technology and retail. Don’t underestimate the importance of operations and expertise, from inventory to delivery, in making customers trust and return.Interview with Ryan Azzi from Prix Import.
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