Nigeria’s Food Delivery Chowdeck Raises $9M to Drive African Expansion

News World

Published by Stephen Oluwadara at August 11, 2025

Meet Chowdeck, Nigeria’s First Food Delivery Startup

Founded in October 2021 by Babafemi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck has grown from 300 users to 1.5 million customers in under four years. It currently operates in 11 cities, relying on a network of more than 20,000 riders. Over half of its deliveries in dense urban areas are made by bicycle, which keeps costs low and operations sustainable.

The company’s entry into Ghana in May 2025 illustrates its measured approach. “We’re thrilled about this round as it brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one super app,” CEO and Co-founder, Aluko said.

Within three months, it was processing 1,000 daily orders without paid advertising, targeting 5,000 by September 2025. He insists the company doesn’t expand into any city without a plan to break even in weeks.

A huge part of the new strategy is quick commerce, ultra-fast delivery using “dark stores” and hyperlocal logistics hubs. Chowdeck intends to open 40 such stores by the end of this year and 500 by 2026, adding two to three each week.

Furthermore, Chowdeck’s recent acquisition of Mira, a point-of-sale provider for the food and hospitality sector, adds tech muscle to improve merchant tools and customer experience.

Chowdeck’s Funding is a Win for Local Players

The funding and expansion is a major win for local players in the highly competitive industry. This is coming at a time when several foreign competitors, such as Bolt Food and Jumia Food, have scaled back operations in West Africa. “This funding will supercharge our growth plans, enabling us to expand into more cities, reduce delivery times, and scale our grocery footprint,” Aluko said.

For lead investor Novastar Ventures, Chowdeck’s success lies in execution and local market knowledge. “Chowdeck is building the future of logistics for African cities,” said partner Brian Waswani Odhiambo. “With deep local insight, a sustainability-first approach, and impressive execution, it is redefining last-mile delivery on the continent.”

In 2024, Chowdeck’s total meal delivery value was six times higher than the previous year, and by mid-2025, it had already surpassed that total. This success can be attributed to the company’s disciplined, profit-focused approach, which sets it apart from global quick commerce players like Gorillas and Getir that have raised huge sums before retreating from markets.

With its latest funding round, Chowdeck is further strengthening its locally tailored model to capture market share and avoid costly pitfalls that have tripped up others.

Main Image: L-R Olumide Ojo Lanre Yusuf and Femi Aluko Founders Chowdeck’s founders. Image Credit: Chowdeck