Transforming Nigeria’s Retail Landscape through Market Square
After a decade of dedicated effort, Ebele Enunwa has created over 4,000 job opportunities in Nigeria’s labor market through his supermarket chain, Market Square. The business has evolved from a single outlet launched in 2015 to what is recognized as Nigeria’s largest modern supermarket network, significantly changing how millions of consumers in 16 cities access groceries and household essentials.
As the Founder and CEO of Sundry Markets Limited, Enunwa has been instrumental in designing a retail system that harmonizes supply chain structures, logistics, pricing strategies, and store formats across Nigeria’s diverse consumer market. This comprehensive approach has turned his initial vision into a thriving reality, although the scale he achieved today is rooted in a much longer and disciplined journey far removed from the retail sector.
Foundation in Education and Early Career
Ebele Emmanuel Enunwa was born on August 17, 1976, as the eldest of three children to an accountant father and a nurse mother. Hailing from Delta State but raised in Lagos, his upbringing was influenced by his parents’ professions, steering him toward an academic path in accountancy.
His formal education began at MPPS, where he earned his First Leaving Certificate before attending the Air Force Academy in Jos, completing his secondary education from 1986 to 1992. Enunwa pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at the University of Ilorin, graduating in 1997. After completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Lagos, he gained valuable experience working as a Graduate Internship Associate in Business Assurance at Deloitte, marking his entry into the corporate services landscape.
In September 1999, Enunwa joined Stanbic IBTC, where he spent five years as a Regional Manager until December 2004. In this role, he managed operations across Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions, further enhancing his skills in deal origination, credit analysis, and relationship management.
Launching Sundry Foods and Expanding the Business Model
In 2003, Enunwa took a significant step by incorporating Sundry Foods Limited, officially commencing operations in September 2004. From the outset, he played a pivotal role in formulating strategies and overseeing operations, embodying both the founder and CEO roles.
The company grew through a combination of equity and debt financing, establishing itself as one of Nigeria’s most diversified foodservice entities. Under Enunwa’s leadership, Sundry Foods introduced a range of consumer brands, including Kilimanjaro, Nibbles Bread, and Pizza Jungle,while also expanding to over 100 outlets nationwide. This venture employed thousands and solidified the company’s position within Nigeria’s organized foodservice industry, serving as the operational blueprint for his subsequent business endeavors.
Responding to a Consumer Gap with Market Square
In 2015, recognizing another gap in the market—modern grocery retail—Enunwa shifted focus to the largely informal Nigerian retail sector, dominated by open markets and small neighborhood shops. He envisioned a structured approach that introduced consistency and reliability to grocery shopping.
This insight culminated in the creation of Sundry Markets Limited, launching Marketsquare as its flagship brand. The aim was to establish a hypermarket with a broad product selection, competitive pricing, and assured availability, all supported by a centralized supply chain system. What began as a single store has now proliferated into a major supermarket chain across multiple cities in Nigeria.
Broadening Horizons Beyond Retail
Beyond his successes in retail and food services, Enunwa has engaged in various governance roles, including serving as a Non-Executive Director of International Gaming and Entertainment Limited. In 2008, he furthered his expertise by completing a master’s degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University, thereby reinforcing his commitment to enhancing consumer experiences across industries.
Today, Ebele Enunwa exemplifies the spirit of a new generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs, fostering growth within institutional-scale companies across the consumer sector, and transforming the landscape of retail in Nigeria.
