Twiga Foods is a Kenyan-based business-to-business (B2B) marketplace platform that has transformed the food supply chain across Africa. Established in 2014 by Grant Brooke and Peter Njonjo, Twiga initially focused on exporting bananas from Kenya. However, a pivotal moment came on their first day when, despite no orders for bananas, a local vendor, ‘Mama Mboga,’ became their first customer. This marked the beginning of a major shift in how fresh produce would reach urban markets across Kenya.
Empowering Farmers and Traders
Twiga Foods leverages cutting-edge technology to connect smallholder farmers with informal traders, creating a reliable, efficient, and scalable food supply chain. By improving access to markets, Twiga ensures that farmers can sell their produce at fair prices, and urban vendors can receive high-quality products with minimal logistical delays. This innovative approach not only benefits local farmers but also creates new opportunities for vendors to thrive in Kenya’s competitive food retail market.
Twiga’s Growth and Expansion
Over the years, Twiga has expanded its product offering, growing from bananas to a wide array of fresh produce, groceries, and home goods. The company has continually improved its technology platform and distribution systems, providing better services to farmers and customers. Twiga’s remarkable growth has made it one of Africa’s most funded tech startups, raising over $100 million in equity and debt funding.
Twiga Foods Funding
Twiga Foods is said to be one of the best-funded tech startups on the continent, securing a US$10.3 million Series A funding round in 2017, a further US$10 million in November 2018, US$34.75 million across two rounds in 2019, and US$29.4 million in debt funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2020.
Twiga’s Series C funding round in 2021 raised an impressive $50 million, allowing the company to expand its food distribution services across the continent. With investors like Juven, TLcom Capital, IFC Ventures, and OP Finnfund, Twiga is set for continued growth in Africa’s agricultural and retail sectors.
Twiga Fresh: A New Subsidiary for Agricultural Growth
In 2022, Twiga Foods introduced Twiga Fresh, a new subsidiary designed to further enhance its agricultural operations. Twiga Fresh focuses on farming and distributing agricultural produce, making it a crucial part of the company’s strategy to scale its food distribution model throughout the region.
Recognition and Impact
Twiga Foods’ impact on the African food supply chain has not gone unnoticed. The company was named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022, underscoring its importance in revolutionizing food distribution and supporting African farmers and entrepreneurs.
Twiga Foods exemplifies how technology can bridge the gap between farmers and retailers, creating opportunities for growth and prosperity in Africa’s agricultural sector. With strong funding, strategic expansion, and continued innovation, Twiga is set to drive the future of food distribution in Africa.
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