Obagbuwa , Oloyede.Rajaram , Rajendra.Nzuza , Zwelihle Wiseman.2025-06-042025-06-0420242024https://hdl.handle.net/10413/23732Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates the financial health of listed food retail companies in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, focusing on the impact of macroeconomic, industry-specific, and microeconomic factors. A knowledge gap exists regarding the influence of macroeconomic factors such as gross domestic product, consumer price index, interest rates, and exchange rates; industry-specific factors like firm size, age, competitiveness, human capital, marketing strategy, governance, and social responsibility; and microeconomic aspects like quick ratio, return on assets, current ratio, leverage, total asset turnover ratio, and stock turnover. The study aims to evaluate these factors and propose a conceptual framework for financial health. The data were sourced from the McGregor BFA Library online database. Four holding companies collectively owned 4 590 outlets across the region. However, due to annual reports being conducted at the holding company level, the study obtained 116 observations, representing four firms over a span of 29 years from 1994 to 2022. Statistical methods employed include descriptive analysis and econometric techniques such as Fixed and Random Effects, Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSEs), and Fixed Generalized Least Squares (FGLS). The study's findings, grounded in its hypotheses, indicated that macroeconomic variables, including exchange rates and gross domestic product, are strongly positively correlated with financial health. Among internal factors, quick ratio and return on assets positively influence financial health, whereas leverage and current ratio negatively affect it. For industry-specific factors, company age positively correlates with financial health, while governance shows a negative relationship. The study recommends a new conceptual framework emphasizing the integration of macroeconomic, internal, and industry-specific factors into financial health evaluations. It contributes originality by uniquely addressing financial health determinants in SADC and leveraging advanced econometric techniques to explore these relationships. Furthermore, it establishes that theories such as open systems theory, financial analysis, value-chain theory, and agency theory are instrumental in understanding and improving financial health in the region. This research serves as a strategic tool for retail companies, offering insights for developing financial health policies aligned with regional economic growth objectives and the SADC strategic development plan.enSouthern African development community.Appraising the economic health.Listed food trade corporations.JSE.Thesis