- Kyosk Digital Services has entered the African fresh produce market with the introduction of its Farm and Fresh line of business.
- By connecting businesses, and consumers, Kyosk.App will facilitate transactions and enhances efficiency in supply chains.
- Kyosk’s Farm & Fresh line aims to offer consistent market access, fair pricing, essential information and insights, and access to agricultural inputs.
Kyosk Digital Services, a digital-first and data-led distribution platform, is entering into the African fresh produce market with the introduction of its Farm and Fresh line of business.
This move follows Kyosk’s recent acquisition of KwikBasket, a well-established player in the agricultural industry. KwikBasket is known for its expertise in distributing agricultural products and providing valuable services to farmers. It also serves commercial kitchens, and other stakeholders in the food chain.
Specializing in online retail distribution, Kyosk Digital Services adopts a digital-first approach and leverages data-driven insights. The company aims to revolutionize the distribution and accessibility of goods and services in Africa. By connecting businesses, consumers, and suppliers, Kyosk.App platform facilitates seamless transactions and enhances supply chain efficiency.
Leveraging KwikBasket’s agricultural expertise
Under Farm and Fresh platform, Kyosk will combine its digital-first approach, large-scale operations, and KwikBasket’s agricultural expertise to transform the African fresh produce market, creating a more efficient and inclusive ecosystem.
Raphael Afaedor, Co-Founder and CEO of Kyosk Digital Services, emphasizes the significance of this acquisition, stating, “This marks a major milestone for Kyosk as we expand our presence in the African fresh produce market and enhance our offerings to cater to the needs of farmers, retailers, kitchens, eateries, and consumers. With KwikBasket’s extensive expertise and resources, we are strategically positioned to unlock the full potential of farming in Africa and create a fair and efficient marketplace that benefits all stakeholders in the food chain.”
Afaedor adds, “This expansion presents a unique opportunity for Kyosk to leverage its digital-first and data-led distribution platform to revolutionize the sourcing, distribution, and enjoyment of fresh produce in Africa.”
In many regions across Africa, farmers encounter numerous challenges due to fragmented and inefficient produce distribution chains. They often struggle to reach end-consumers, resulting in production losses, low income, wastage, and high food prices.
Kyosk’s Farm and Fresh line aims to address these challenges. It will be providing farmers with improved yields, consistent market access, and fair pricing. Further it will offer essential information and insights, and access to agricultural inputs. By empowering farmers with these resources, Kyosk will support growth of the agricultural sector.
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Challenges facing kitchens and eateries
Additionally, Kyosk Fresh will cater to the needs of restaurants, eateries, and other customers. The company will offer consistent supply of a wide variety of high-quality products to eateries. Kitchens and eateries often face challenges such as long lead times in the supply chain. Food safety concerns, wastage, high logistics costs, and delays in fulfilling customer orders are other challenges.
Kyosk Farm and Fresh aims to overcome these obstacles through streamlined processes, optimized logistics, and enhanced inventory management. This will enable kitchens and eateries to maintain stability, and competitiveness in pricing. The strategy will also ensure food safety, transparency, and traceability throughout the supply chain.
As part of the launch of the Farm and Fresh line of business, the uLima digital platform will be rebranded as Kyosk Farm. Building upon the foundation of uLima, Kyosk Farm will leverage its existing features and functionality while enhancing the overall user experience.
Additionally, it will offer farmers improved yields by providing access to information, insights, and agri-inputs such as fertilizers, and financing. Kyosk Farm will enable farmers to connect with consistent market access and fair pricing, ensuring sustainable income and growth opportunities for their businesses.
The African retail market, valued at approximately $600 billion is projected to grow at 5% to 6% annually. Kyosk focuses on serving small retail outlets and traditional retailers, which account for over 60% of retail trade in Africa.
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Small retailers often experience stockouts
These retailers are primarily located in low-income, informal urban communities and have historically been underserved. They face challenges such as high transportation costs and difficulty accessing manufacturers and distributors due to multiple intermediaries. As a result, small retailers often experience frequent stockouts, lost revenue, and limited access to credit.
The Kyosk platform revolutionizes how small retail outlets (kiosks), farmers, and their communities in Africa will get high-quality produce and services through digitized value chains. Retailers will order products directly from fast-moving consumer goods companies without intermediaries, getting competitive prices and saving costs.
Kyosk has also expanded its operations to include electronic goods, health, and beauty products. This reflects its commitment to diversifying its offerings and catering to a wide range of consumer needs.
Moreover, Kyosk extends its support beyond product distribution. It collaborates with financial institutions to facilitate outreach to traditional shops, farmers, and other businesses. This will see them offer credit and insurance services, contributing to the financial inclusion of underrepresented businesses and individuals. Overall, the strategy will foster economic growth and stability across economies in Africa.
With this strategic expansion Kyosk is poised to revolutionizing the distribution of fresh produce in Africa.
