A food delivery platform, backed by Y Combinator and based in Nigeria, is contemplating the idea of expanding its services to South Africa, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.
During a recent event, Kennedy Offor, the sales lead at the platform, mentioned that they are exploring these countries due to their developed markets, especially highlighting South Africa.
The food delivery industry in South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire is vibrant with several competitors. South Africa hosts platforms like Mr D Food, Uber Eats, and Zulzi. In Kenya, the platform would compete with Glovo and Bolt Food. Glovo and Uber Eats are also present in Côte d’Ivoire.
Recently celebrating a milestone of one million registered users, the platform currently handles 40,000 deliveries daily, with a majority coming from Lagos State.
Expanding its services beyond food delivery, the platform has incorporated additional verticals such as grocery delivery, medicine shopping, advertising, and last-mile logistics to enhance its app offerings. The move to expand to countries with a consumer profile similar to Lagos presents growth prospects.
Prior to international expansion, the platform aims to increase its network of restaurants by welcoming new partners and supporting existing ones in opening outlets in new areas.
By strategically locating outlets based on order frequency data, the platform ensures quicker and more cost-effective food delivery to customers. They have assisted smaller businesses in Lagos in establishing new outlets.
To scale up orders, restaurant aggregators like this platform need well-distributed restaurants with high customer traffic. Therefore, the platform has strengthened partnerships with quick-service restaurant chains, like the recent exclusive collaboration with Chicken Republic, which boasts nearly 100 outlets in the region. The platform has also assisted Chicken Republic in launching a new food product and is keen on supporting its expansion into new territories.
By offering support to restaurants for growth and efficient delivery services, the platform believes in establishing mutually beneficial relationships that will drive its growth both locally and internationally.