● Food-tech start-up opens 4 hubs across Nairobi in initial operations phase
● Second phase of fundraising targeting to raise up to KES 400 million for capacity expansion
● Kune has just released its own mobile app
Kenyan food-tech start-up, Kune, announces it has officially begun commercial operations with four meal hubs located in strategic locations in Nairobi. The company plans to expand to other towns in Kenya in the next 12 months as the demand for home- made healthy meals on order gains momentum.
Kune, which is in the second phase of fundraising, is targeting to raise $3.5 million (KES 400 million) from local and international investors. The funds will be used to increase production capacity and build a countrywide footprint by 2024.
The locations that will be fully operational by the end of March 2022 include Nairobi’s Central Business District along University Way, Sameer Business Park on Mombasa Road, Thika Road and Langata Road. “Currently, Kune is delivering over 400 meals a day with a projection to be serving over 1,000 meals a day by the end of this quarter. Our factory production and delivery infrastructure are fully in place for us to scale our operations with our unique offering,” notes Faith Mwendia, the Managing Director Kune.
Kune’s MD added that $1 million pre-seed funding raised last year has enabled the company to develop its factory capacity, boost research capabilities and strengthen the delivery system. The company presently has capacity to produce and deliver up to 8,000 meals per day.
“In the past few months, we have seen tremendous growth in demand owing to our dynamic menu and friendly prices. We have invested heavily in research and development where we have a fully dedicated in-house team working consistently on our menu advancement so as to meet the changing demands of customers while also bridging the nutrition and price gap. Our prices range between KES 250 to KES 360 for a balanced meal including a fruit salad,” Ms Mwendia added.
Kune sources for food from local suppliers and employs production efficiencies- at the moment it is serving three balanced-diet meals (2 non-veg, 1 veg) a day while also utilising the fruits and vegetables in season. The investment in its own production and own mobile app has also enabled it to scale down on infrastructure costs with the benefits passed on to the consumer through affordable pricing of meals.
