Walmart’s Man in SA Calls It Quits: Dries D’Hooghe Leaves After Eight Years, Heads to Carrefour

The man who led Walmart’s rollout in South Africa has left the company.

Dries D’Hooghe, Walmart Africa and Massmart chief operating officer, announced that he is leaving the American retail giant after eight years.

The Departure

In a social media post, D’Hooghe revealed that he is leaving Walmart after working for the retailer in Canada and South Africa.

“Today is my last day at Walmart, and I am leaving with gratitude for an incredible journey. Walmart’s purpose of saving people money so they can live better isn’t a tagline. I’ve seen its impact firsthand across very different markets.”

He is joining Majid Al Futtaim’s Carrefour retailer in Dubai.

The Walmart Rollout

D’Hooghe was the lead spokesperson at the launch of Walmart’s first two South African stores, at Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort and Fourways Mall in Johannesburg, in November 2025.

He was set to expand the brand further onto the continent.

The Strategy

Walmart’s strategy of Every Day Low Prices is based on its famed “productivity loop”offering customers the lowest prices consistently, rather than relying on temporary sales or promotions.

While this strategy is still unproven in South Africa, it has potential amid the declining effectiveness of promotional activity.

The Challenges

Former Shoprite CEO White Basson has said it would not be easy for Walmart to gain significant market share in South Africa using the same model it has in the US.

He noted that South African consumers are used to the high-low promotional culture and entrenched loyalty programmes.

However, Basson also said that if Walmart can get its model to work in South Africawhich relies on high sales volumes to drive down pricesit could present a substantial problem for local retailers.

The Next Chapter

“I had the privilege of working with so many great people – supporting our associates, accelerating omni-channel through COVID in Canada, and later resetting the business and opening the first Walmart stores in Africa,” D’Hooghe said.

“What fulfilled me most was investing in the people, seeing others grow beyond what they thought possible. Those quiet, often unseen moments will remain the most rewarding.”

The Bottom Line

D’Hooghe is out. The Walmart rollout is in his rearview. And the question of whether the Every Day Low Prices model can crack the South African market remains open.

Massmart and Walmart have not yet announced a replacement. The case is still open.

{Source: Dailyinvestor}

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