Panasonic started from humble beginning beginnings in 1918 as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. It started out as a vendor of duplex lamp sockets and thereafter began producing bicycle lamps, light fixtures, motors, and electric irons. In 1961, they fully embraced the electronics industry when they began producing television sets for the U.S. market under the Panasonic brand name. They have since grown to become one of the largest electronics company in the world.
The older generation in Kenya might know Panasonic for the corded desktop phones and PABX systems. They have since grown their product range to include LED TV’s, Digital Cameras, Fridges, Microwave ovens among others.
Panasonic is represented in this region by its subsidiary, Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa FZE (PMMAF) which is based in Dubai. Locally, sales and distribution has been handled by third party vendors. Panasonic has however not had a branded showroom in the country but all that is set to change. The brand store, aptly called Panasonic Plaza, is set to be launched tomorrow and will be the first fully equipped and comprehensive Panasonic showroom in Kenya and in the whole of East Africa.
This investment by Panasonic is a sign that it is taking this market seriously. Demand for consumer goods has risen in Kenya as evidenced by the fact other electronic giants like Samsung and Sony have expanded their operations in the country. This increased demand for consumer goods is a sign of a rising middle class.