As of April 2019[update], Uchumi is one of a number of Kenyan supermarket chains that serve Kenya, including market-leaders Naivas, Quick Mart and Carrefour.

In 1976, Uchumi's shareholders signed a management contract with Standa SPA, an Italian supermarket chain, to train Kenyans to run the new enterprise.

[5] A government-led rescue plan, however, was initiated and consequently five Uchumi outlets, all in Nairobi, were reopened on 15 July 2006 under interim management and a caretaker administrator.

[6] By January 2011, the retail chain had returned to profitability and applied to the Kenya Capital Markets Authority to re-list its shares on the NSE.

[11] The six largest shareholders in the company as of April 2015 were:[12] As of April 2019[update], the supermarket chain maintained Six outlets in Kenya:[13] List of Uchumi branches in Kenya:[14] In June 2015, Uchumi fired its chief executive officer and chief financial officer at the time, for "misconduct and gross negligence".