Kenyan Food-tech Startup Kune Shuts Down After 9 Months

By Jane Muia / Published June 23, 2022 | 11:52 am

KEY POINTS

Since the year’s beginning, the company has sold more than 55,000 meals. At the same time, it acquired more than 6,000 individual customers and 100 corporate customers. The company had acquired a team of 90 staff, calling upon other entrepreneurs to enlist.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Kune started its operation in Kenya in December 2020. Robin Reetch launched the company one month after his trip to Kenya in November 2020. His inability to get cheap quality food in Kenya inspired him to launch the company, but the journey hasn’t been easy as he thought.

Kune, a Kenyan food-tech startup that offered ready-to-eat meal services at affordable prices, has closed its doors after nine months of operations over the economic downturn.

“Sad day. Kune Food closed down today. With the current economic downturn and investment markets tightening up, we were unable to raise our next round. Coupled with rising food costs deteriorating our margins, we just couldn’t keep going,” Kune Founder Robin Reecht wrote on its LinkedIn page on Wednesday.

Kune produces 2$ to 3 $ prepared meals distributed through the company’s app’ fridges, canteens and vending machines to individuals, retailers, partners and corporate.

“But at $3 per meal, it just wasn’t enough to sustain our growth,” reecht added.

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It sells at a price ranging between 250 to 360 shillings for a balanced meal, including a fruit salad. In February, the company had started commercial operations with four meal hubs in Nairobi and had revealed its plan to expand to other towns in Kenya.

Kune started its operation in Kenya in December 2020. Robin Reetch launched the company one month after his trip to Kenya in November 2020. His inability to get cheap quality food in Kenya inspired him to launch the company, but the journey hasn’t been easy as he thought.

“Many things could have been done differently, better certainly. The coming months will allow us to reflect on Kune’s failure, and I hope to share about it when the time is right,” he said.