Nigerian food delivery startup Chowdeck has crossed a major milestone in its expansion into quick commerce, delivering more than ₦1.5 billion worth of groceries in June 2026.

The milestone was announced by co-founder and CEO Femi Aluko, who revealed that the grocery segment, initially launched as an experimental offering, now contributes 11% of the company’s overall business.

“I am excited to share that last month, we crossed ₦1.5 billion worth of groceries delivered on Chowdeck in a single month,” Aluko wrote in a post on X.

The achievement highlights Chowdeck’s successful diversification beyond restaurant meal delivery into one of the fastest-growing segments of digital commerce.

Quick Commerce Becomes a Growth Driver

Unlike traditional food delivery, quick commerce focuses on delivering groceries and everyday essentials within minutes or hours, requiring sophisticated inventory management, warehousing, and fulfilment operations.

Aluko acknowledged that the transition has presented new operational challenges.

“It hasn’t been perfect. Quick commerce is a different beast from food, and it has stretched our operations in new ways, from out-of-stock items to fulfilment timing. But we are fixing things quickly and getting sharper every week,” he said.

Despite these challenges, the rapid growth of the grocery business suggests customers are increasingly embracing the convenience of ordering household essentials through the platform.

A Strategy Backed by Investment

The grocery milestone aligns closely with Chowdeck’s long-term expansion strategy.

When the company raised $9 million in a Series A funding round in August 2025, led by Novastar Ventures and Y Combinator, expanding its quick commerce infrastructure was identified as one of its primary investment priorities.

The company outlined plans to develop a nationwide network of dark stores—small fulfilment centres designed exclusively for online orders with a target of 40 locations by the end of 2025 and 500 by the end of 2026.

Crossing ₦1.5 billion in grocery deliveries within a single month suggests that those infrastructure investments are beginning to generate meaningful commercial returns.

More Than Just Food Delivery

The growth of Chowdeck’s grocery business represents more than a new revenue stream.

Quick commerce increases customer engagement by encouraging more frequent app usage beyond meal ordering. A customer who orders lunch several times a week and purchases groceries through the same platform becomes significantly more valuable than one who only orders prepared meals.

This broader use case strengthens customer retention while creating additional opportunities for revenue growth.

Chowdeck has already surpassed 2 million registered users, doubling its customer base within a year after reaching its first million users. Daily order volumes have also increased from approximately 30,000 to more than 40,000 orders, supported by a delivery network of over 20,000 riders operating across 11 cities in Nigeria and Ghana.

Standing Out in a Competitive Market

Chowdeck’s continued growth is particularly notable given the challenges that have faced food delivery businesses in Nigeria.

Several international players, including Jumia Food, Bolt Food, and Glovo have struggled to achieve sustainable growth in the market.

Chowdeck has instead focused on building strong relationships with local restaurants and food vendors while maintaining a disciplined approach to profitability, allowing it to scale without relying heavily on unsustainable cash burn.

Its growing grocery business adds another competitive advantage, despite the operational complexity associated with inventory management, perishables, and order fulfilment.

With groceries now accounting for more than one-tenth of its business, Chowdeck appears to be successfully evolving into a broader commerce platform rather than remaining solely a food delivery service.

Aluko also hinted at further expansion in the coming months.

“We aim to serve a lot more customers in Q3. Something big is coming,” he said.

While the company has yet to disclose what those plans entail, the latest milestone suggests Chowdeck is steadily strengthening its position in Nigeria’s fast-growing quick commerce market as consumer demand for on-demand delivery continues to rise.