From Akamba to Nakumatt: Why family owned firms face turbulence

As a little boy, Atul Shah, the current managing director and chief executive officer of the embattled and biggest retail chain Nakumatt Supermarkets, did such odd jobs as stacking sacks, making deliveries to customers and manning the till at his father’s shop in Nakuru.

It was while working as a shelf stocker and shop assistant that he learnt the ropes of retailing and vowed to protect his father’s vision. An enterprising young Atul would never lose sight of his father’s dream even during the hardest of times.