ReFuel Forum Africa 2024 Unites Industry Leaders to Drive Innovation in Fuel and Convenience Retail

Held at the Capital Zimbali Resort, ReFuel Forum Africa 2024 brought together key players from across Africa’s fuel and convenience retail sectors for two days of networking and strategic insights.

ReFuel Forum Africa 2024, held at the luxurious Capital Zimbali Resort, successfully brought together key players from across Africa’s fuel and convenience retail sectors for two days of cutting-edge discussions, networking, and strategic insights.

The event opened with a warm welcome from Conference Chair Mohamed Carrim, setting the tone for a dynamic and forward-thinking agenda. A major theme of the forum was the emerging trends within the African fuel and convenience retail industry, with a particular focus on technology’s transformative role and strategies for driving profitability across the continent.

One of the standout sessions was the Pan-African Panel Discussion, which provided a comprehensive view of the key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the fuel industry across West, East, and Southern Africa. Moderated by Vishnu Govender, Regional Sales Director, SADC/EA & ROSSA at Headline Partner Gilbarco Veeder-Root, the panel featured:

• Tizard Ansah, Head of Compliance & Operations at AOMC Ghana
• Anthony Ogalo, General Manager at SEPA Uganda
• Vishal Premlall, National Director, and Henry van der Merwe, Chairman, at SAPRA

The panel explored how African fuel markets are evolving and how different regions are addressing unique challenges such as infrastructure limitations, regulatory frameworks, and economic conditions. Discussions highlighted opportunities for growth, driven by increasing consumer demand, the need for more efficient fuel stations, and AI innovations in fuel retail. The experts offered practical insights into the regulatory landscapes, economic dynamics, and competitive forces that shape the future of the fuel industry across Africa.

An insightful session was given by Dominick Nkhatu, Senior Manager of Convenience Trading at BP South Africa, who shared valuable insights into the development of the convenience retail business in South Africa. This was complemented by a presentation from Raj Golecha, CEO of PriceEasy, who delved into the role of advanced fuel pricing and network planning in boosting in-store sales through targeted promotions. These sessions underscored the importance of leveraging data and technology to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.

The Profitability through Menu Engineering and Navigating the New Normal session, moderated by Mohamed Carrim and featuring Hamza Farooqui of Millat Group and Derrian Nadauld of Famous Brands, explored strategies to enhance profitability through optimized food and hospitality offerings at fuel stations. The discussion highlighted how adapting to post-pandemic trends and consumer preferences for convenience and quality can drive growth and create value-added experiences for customers.

In addition to the conference discussions, the event featured the signature 1-to-1 meetings program, offering attendees the opportunity to engage in pre-arranged, 15-minute meetings with key retailers and suppliers. These highly focused interactions fostered strong business relationships and created new opportunities for collaboration across the industry.

The forum hosted a range of the leading fuel retailers and suppliers from across the continent, including Sasol, Engen, Vivo Energy, MOGAS, TotalEnergies, BP, Pumangol, Gilbarco Veeder-Root, PriceEasy, Petrotec, PDI, FuelTrans, Dover, Kalibrate, and many more.

The event was hailed as a major success, providing a vital platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration within the African fuel and convenience retail landscape.

The ReFuel Forum Africa will return in September 2025, promising even more cutting-edge discussions and opportunities for growth in this rapidly evolving sector. Get in touch with the event organisers to find out more information on their global portfolio of events.