Nigerian startup, City Distro, is building a technology enabled distribution platform aimed at helping emerging African consumer brands overcome the challenges of getting their products onto retail shelves across the continent. The company is combining digital tools, logistics and retail networks to connect manufacturers with retailers and make locally produced goods more accessible to consumers.
City Distro said its model is designed to address the fragmented distribution system that has continued to limit the visibility and growth of many local manufacturers. Through its platform, retailers can order products, track deliveries and manage transactions, while manufacturers gain access to a wider network of retail outlets without having to build their own distribution infrastructure.
The company is also using technology to provide financial and operational support to businesses within its network. Its services include inventory financing, flexible payment options, digital wallets, working capital loans and data driven tools that provide manufacturers and retailers with insights into supply chain performance, market trends and sales. City Distro said the approach is intended to help businesses manage cash flow while improving the speed and efficiency of product distribution.
City Distro said it currently serves more than 1,000 retail stores across seven key cities and works with emerging and challenger brands. The startup’s broader ambition is to develop a pan African distribution network connecting manufacturers, retailers and financial partners across markets, with its technology infrastructure supporting the movement of African made products from factories to consumers.