Twiga Foods has announced it will lay off 59 employees as it moves towards efficiency and profitability after a turbulent season of court cases and layoffs which also saw over 283 employees plus its co-founder and CEO Peter Njonjo leave the firm.
In a statement, the firm announced that the delivery of these efficiency enhancements to the organisation will regrettably impact 59 positions. making it 342 in total since the firm started he restructuring process in 2023. Simultaneously, Twiga will open 25 new roles to support key areas of growth and innovation. These changes are crucial as Twiga accelerates towards profitability and continues its mission of revolutionising food distribution in Africa through innovative digital solutions.
“I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to all affected staff members for their contributions to the strategic realignment started last year and to Twiga’s continued success. These adjustments will allow us to improve our service offering and lay a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in the years to come,” said Charles Ballard, CEO of Twiga Foods. “To our new joiners, welcome to the Twiga team!”
As part of this plan, Twiga says it’s augmenting its staffing model to drive greater cost efficiencies and unlock new growth opportunities and will focus on digital food distribution, with a renewed emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetable products, to the general trade market.
These further round of operational efficiencies delivered under the leadership of CEO Charles Ballard, who joined the company in May 2024. Ballard who was picked from Jumia is expected to help the firm focus on key areas such as stronger partnerships with FMCG manufacturers, logistic efficiencies and an enhanced Tech solution.
Twiga Food’s Chief Operating Officer Laurent Gouault took charge of the firm’s operational and commercial functions while Chief Financial Officer Zuber Momoniata took charge of the firm’s finance & legal functions. Ballard was CEO of Jumia Kenya where he led the transformation of the business toward profitability. Ballard has a career spanning over 15 years, of which 9 years in the Kenyan market, Ballard brings a wealth of experience in e-commerce, retail, and financial services.