Twiga, a logistics company and tech platform, has become one of Kenya’s largest distributors of basic food items.
The company, launched in 2014, buys produce from Kenyan farmers and delivers it to urban markets and kiosks to improve Nairobi’s informal produce economy, handling more than 4,000 orders a week for bananas alone.
Informal vendors account for nearly all sales of produce and other fast-moving consumer goods. “The main reason markets do not work here is because there lacks a proper market infrastructure to support the five million population in Nairobi,” says Twiga’s Grant Brooke.
“Produce goes bad and there are massive delays at the markets.” Twiga’s $10.3 million Series A round was led by Dubai-based venture capital firm Wamda Capital, with backing from Omidyar Network, DOB Equity, 1776, Blue Haven Initiative, and others.
Twiga also secured a $2 million grant from USAID and mobile operator association GSMA to develop financing, food safety and other services for farmers.
