Chowdeck, one of Nigeria’s top food delivery startups, has unveiled plans to expand beyond its home market, starting with Ghana. The company shared its vision for international growth at the 2024 edition of Moonshot, signaling an ambitious move to establish itself as a dominant player across Africa. According to sources familiar with the matter, Chowdeck could launch in Ghana as early as March.
Chowdeck which was founded in 2021 has experienced rapid growth, reaching one million users and processing ₦30 billion in transactions in 2024. The company aims to expand its reach to 52 cities across Nigeria and internationally by the end of the year.
A source close to the company revealed that Chowdeck’s ultimate goal is to serve the entire African continent. CEO Femi Aluko has hinted at this ambition, stating in a recent interview that the company envisions becoming Africa’s go-to “super app” for ordering anything, anywhere.
Chowdeck started with just 319 users in October 2021 but has since grown into a major force in Nigeria’s food delivery industry. While food delivery remains its core service, the company has expanded its offerings to include deliveries of pharmaceuticals, retail goods, and fresh market produce, building a reputation for speed and efficiency.
With a fleet of over 10,000 delivery riders, Chowdeck currently operates in key Nigerian cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Abuja. In February, it expanded to Owerri, Enugu, and Kaduna, but Lagos remains its biggest market.
Ghana presents a strategic opportunity for Chowdeck, as the country’s food delivery market is projected to reach $540.1 million by 2029, growing at 16.66% annually. Ghana’s urban centers, including Accra, Tema, and Kumasi are quite attractive markets for expansion, have a growing population of tech-savvy, on-demand service users.
However, the company will face significant competition from Uber Eats and Bolt Food, both of which have already established a presence in the country. Additionally, Ghana’s economic challenges—high taxes, low wages, and inflation—have forced some players to exit.
Glovo, for example, withdrew from Ghana in 2024 despite strong initial growth, after investing nearly $3.7 million into expansion. Similarly, Jumia Food shut down its Ghana operations in early 2023 as part of a broader restructuring strategy.
Despite these challenges, Chowdeck is confident in its ability to replicate the success it has achieved in Nigeria. If successful, this expansion could mark the beginning of a larger push into more African markets, reinforcing Chowdeck’s vision of becoming the leading food delivery and e-commerce logistics platform on the continent.
However, Chowdeck has yet to officially comment on its expansion plans.
