All three are targeting the hanout: Morocco’s ubiquitous neighbourhood convenience store, of which there are approximately 126,000 nationwide. Together, these small shops account for more than 85% of Morocco’s food spending in a market estimated at $40 billion. For startups building digital financial and commercial infrastructure, this is both the problem and the pitch. The direction of travel for all three points toward a similar destination: a unified merchant financial and commercial platform that captures transactions, data, and financial product revenue from the same shop owner. Feature WafR Woliz z.systems Business Model Embedded finance & remittance: turning corner shops into “agent banks” for mobile money, top-ups, and transfers.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 06, 2026 21:07 UTC