Nigerian startup City Distro is working to transform the distribution of fast moving consumer goods across Africa, beginning with a network covering seven major Nigerian hubs before expanding into other African markets.
The company operates a digital platform that links manufacturers directly with retailers while bringing inventory management, demand data, ordering and logistics into one system. Its goal is to address the fragmented nature of distribution, where goods often pass through several intermediaries before reaching retailers and consumers.
According to founder and CEO Olamide Olabisi, distribution across the region remains largely local and driven by last mile delivery, creating a need for better supply chain intelligence.
Over the past two years, City Distro says it has reached more than 1,000 retail stores and distributed over five million units of goods valued at more than $3 million. The company says most orders are delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
Its retail customers include Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Foodco, Market Square, Pick n Pay and Jendol Supermarket. The company currently operates across Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
Through its platform, manufacturers can access real time information on inventory and demand while connecting directly with retailers. City Distro also coordinates deliveries through a network of micro hubs positioned to support faster distribution.
The startup is also looking beyond logistics. It plans to introduce financial services, including inventory backed credit for retailers, using sales information generated through its platform to support access to financing.
City Distro currently distributes beverages, household products and food staples, with particular attention to emerging brands that often struggle to gain access to Nigeria’s highly fragmented retail market.
The company plans to grow its retailer network to more than 10,000 locations, onboard additional manufacturers and expand its logistics capacity before taking its operations into other African countries.
Figures cited by City Distro put Africa’s fast moving consumer goods market at an estimated $628 billion in 2025, with the market projected to reach $1.047 trillion by 2033.
