Mitsui Invests in Bangladesh’s Shwapno Supermarket Chain | Retail News
Japanese conglomerate Mitsui &. Co. Will provide a convertible loan to ACI Logistics Limited (ACIL), the operator of Bangladesh’s largest grocery retail chain, Shwapno, the companies announced Thursday.
The investment, facilitated through Mitsui’s Singapore-based subsidiary, Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (MAP), aims to support Shwapno’s expansion and modernization, according to a press release. The loan is denominated in foreign currency and is subject to regulatory approvals in Bangladesh.
ACIL, a subsidiary of ACI PLC, currently operates over 836 Shwapno stores across Bangladesh. The partnership marks Mitsui’s second collaboration with the ACI Group, following a November 2024 investment in ACI Motors, the group’s mobility business.
Bangladesh is experiencing rapid economic growth and a burgeoning middle class, driving increased demand for modern retail experiences, Mitsui stated. Currently, modern grocery retailers account for approximately 2% of the country’s food retail market, indicating substantial potential for growth.
Mitsui intends to leverage its capital, global sourcing capabilities and technical expertise to accelerate ACIL’s growth and business transformation. The collaboration will focus on operational improvements, governance, supply chain optimization, and sustainable growth initiatives at Shwapno, the companies said.
ACI PLC Chairman Anis Ud Dowla and Managing Director Arif Dowla, along with ACIL Managing Director Sabbir Hasan Nasir, and Kazuhide Nakajo, Chief Operating Officer of the Consumer-Centric Business Development Unit at Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd., were present at the signing ceremony held at ACI Centre on February 25, 2026.
The investment comes as Bangladesh navigates a period of economic transition and seeks to attract foreign investment to support its development goals. The Daily Star reported on February 26, 2026, that the new government is prioritizing economic reforms.