DOB Equity, a Dutch family office, has acquired a minority stake in Twiga Foods, a mobile-based supply platform for retail outlets, kiosks and market stalls in Kenya.

Brigit van Dijk-van de Reijt, CEO of DOB Equity, said by simplifying the food supply chain, Twiga will improve food security and help reduce costs for Kenyan consumers.

“Improving delivery networks and reducing the cost of food are extremely important in Kenya, where families spend up to half their income on food,” she said.

“Current supply chain problems mean fruit can be significantly cheaper for consumers outside Africa like Europe or the US, than those in Kenya, where the fruits are actually grown, despite the huge disparity in distance travelled,” she said.

“Ultimately, by improving the food delivery chains, Twiga Foods will raise food security on the continent and will help unlock the urban African consumables market which is approaching $1 trillion in annual value,” she added.

Twiga Foods is a fast moving consumer goods company based in Nairobi, Kenya whose primary business is the supply and distribution of fruits and vegetables to small and medium size urban retailers, ranging from small convenience stores (dukas) and kiosks to street-side table tops and shop carts.

DOB Equity said that Twiga uses a holistic, integrated approach with a focus on supportive technology to cut bottlenecks in the traditional domestic fruit and vegetable supply chain in order to deliver better goods at lower prices directly to vendors in Africa’s urban markets.

Twiga’s efficient logistics and operations as well as its use of cold storage improve food security, increase product quality and lower prices.

Twiga also adds impact to other stakeholders along the value chain, e.g. offering farmers agronomy advice and fixed pricing, and in the future offering an efficient distribution channel for other FMCG producers

The funding will be used for Twiga’s expansion in Kenya.

DOB Equity is an independent, long-term investor in companies in East Africa.

An entrepreneurial Dutch family, who was very successful in developing retail concepts for supermarkets and drug stores in the Netherlands and abroad, created DOB Equity and is its sole capital provider.

DOB Equity invests in companies that will positively contribute to a more social and sustainable society and deliver long-term profitability.

The fund is evergreen with all proceeds from investments reinvested into the fund, making DOB Equity a true long-term growth partner to portfolio companies.

The fund is supported by a team of professionals in the Netherlands, Kenya and Tanzania and an Investment Committee.