Naili Is Redefining Food and Grocery Access in Africa
Rising food costs are squeezing Nigerian students and young professionals, leaving affordability out of reach for many. Enter Naili, a digital-first food and grocery platform founded by Udeze Chinonso, which is rewriting how Africa eats through group buying, and social commerce. What began as a simple effort to help students buy food together has grown into a bold model bridging offline retail with online innovation.
Chinonso’s journey started during his university days when he and his friends often pooled money to buy groceries more cheaply. After graduation, he realised this wasn’t just a student hack, it was a business opportunity. Food prices near campuses were disproportionately high, and most students couldn’t afford daily meals. That insight led to Noni Foods, his first venture, built to make food more accessible through a hub-and-spoke system combining central kitchens, container outlets, and last-mile delivery. But soon, demand outgrew the model, and students in other regions began asking for help to buy groceries too. That’s when Naili was born.
At its core, Naili is a digital-first food and grocery platform that lets users order meals and groceries affordably through WhatsApp and, soon, a dedicated mobile app. The platform operates a hybrid logistics system, combining in-house delivery with third-party partners to ensure that orders arrive in 30 minutes or less. What makes Naili stand out is its “team purchase” or group buying model. If a shawarma costs ₦3,000 individually, a group of buyers can get it for ₦2,500. This socio-commerce approach rewards community participation, driving both affordability and scale.
“Our mission is to make food accessible and affordable,” says Chinonso. “Education costs are high, food prices are higher, Naili bridges that gap.”
The name “Naili” blends African roots and symbolism. “We wanted a name that felt African,” Chinonso explains. “Naili mixes the Egyptian language and the River Nile; it represents life, culture, and sustenance.”
In just two years, Naili has grown impressively. The company’s revenues jumped from ₦20 million in its first year to ₦50 million in the second, and ₦100 million year-to-date. With around 6,000 active monthly users, mostly students across Awka and Enugu, Naili runs two physical outlets and one online hub, powered by a central kitchen model that maintains food quality across locations. Seventy percent of its revenue still comes from offline operations, but the new mobile app, set to launch in two weeks, will push the brand further into digital territory.
Naili’s ecosystem is designed not just for consumers but for creators. “Over 90% of our workforce are students,” says Chinonso. “We’re giving them job opportunities, training, and income while they study.” By situating its hubs close to student clusters, Naili reduces delivery costs and enhances local engagement. This model also helps strengthen food security, ensuring meals are available and affordable even in high-cost academic areas.
To improve logistics and pricing, Naili gathers location-based insights from both its offline and online channels. With plans to expand from three to ten hubs across six states, the company aims to reach ₦1 billion in annual revenue within the next 18 months. Currently bootstrapped, Naili is raising ₦300 million to scale operations and form strategic partnerships, especially in logistics. Its long-term vision is to become Africa’s leading food and grocery platform, integrating farming, processing, and distribution under one umbrella.
Like many African startups, Naili has faced its share of hurdles, from funding shortages to government demolitions of outlets. Yet, Chinonso credits his resilient team for weathering the storms. “We keep pushing,” he says. “Success is when every Nigerian wakes up without worrying about food.”
From humble beginnings in university dorms to building a tech-driven food ecosystem, Naili represents the future of African commerce, one built on affordability, accessibility, and community. “Our vision,” Chinonso sums up, “is for Naili to become the food basket of the world, making quality food accessible to every student, every community, across Africa.”