There is a real buzz in consumer markets about niche food and drinks brands that celebrate the provenance of where products are made, celebrating local ingredients and craftsmanship. At Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on 30 leading women entrepreneurs in Africa who are capturing consumer imagination and making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products and craftsmanship, and their passion for what they do.

Many global consumers will already be familiar with some of Africa’s leading food and drinks exports - world-class, award winning wines from South Africa may immediately come to the minds and to the tastebuds of many people. But there is a wealth of exciting food and drink products emerging from the African continent, produced by passionate, talented women entrepreneurs who believe in building sustainable, growth businesses that make an impact. From a growing number of artisanal gin makers, to luxury chocolate makers, olive oil producers, sustainable tea and coffee producers, and so much more. Africa has so much to offer, and the continent’s women food and drink entrepreneurs are showing the world just what it can produce, and importantly, creating brands that can stand out from the crowd on global retail shelves.

Meet 30 leading African women food and drink entrepreneurs who are capturing the imaginations of consumers across the continent, and also the world, right now.

Featured

Isabel Mandofa, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a successful, high-impact agri-food business

Isabel Mandofa is the founder of Tropicalisa, Lda, a Mozambican agri-food industry business focused on the sustainable transformation of local fruits into high-value-added products. It operates an integrated chain that buys surplus from small producers, processes, freezes and distributes fruit pulps, natural juices, syrups, sauces and frozen fruits, guaranteeing standardized quality, traceability and food safety. Tropicalisa’s core business is to make the most of national fruit, reduce post-harvest losses and supply the market during the off-season, providing practical, healthy and competitive solutions for supermarkets, restaurants, confectioneries, ice cream parlors, hotels and end consumers.

Lovable Dladla, a South African entrepreneur turning a passion for baking into a growing business

Lovable Dladla is the founder of Luvast Bakery, located in Newcastle, South Africa. She is a self-taught baker and started her business in 2020 with no external funds, building it organically over time. Even though she originally studied engineering, she really found her passion in business, and one of her key motivations as an entrepreneur is to build a thriving business that can help other families in the future by creating jobs.

Tania Kabeya, a passionate chef and entrepreneur building a uniquely African culinary brand

Tania Kabeya is the founder of Chef La Tania, the South African culinary brand known for its rich African flavour and elegant presentation and founded in 2019. She is a passionate chef and entrepreneur and has built a reputation for delivery a range of catering services, including celebration cakes, private dinners, frozen meals, and food delivery. Tania finds purpose in creating meaningful experiences, honouring her heritage, and growing a brand built on passion, excellence, and purpose-driven living. She shares a deep bond with her siblings and draws strength from her faith and role as a mother.

Lebo Biko, a South African champion of women-led innovation in Africa’s agri-food value chain

Lebo Biko is the co-founder of Oya Foods, part of Oya Group, which champions women-led innovation in the agri-food value chain. Founded in 2020, Oya Foods produces African-inspired, shelf-stable dried foods using ingredients primarily sourced from women farmers and suppliers. The company’s mission is to reduce food waste and modernize indigenous food systems. With over 25 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and governance, Lebo is passionate about sustainability, inclusive growth, and driving meaningful change. Through Oya Group, she is helping build a future where women thrive, African food culture is celebrated, and innovation transforms food systems.

Selusiwe Lukhele, an entrepreneur creating a vibrant cafe hub for local people to meet and connect in Eswatini

Selusiwe Lukhele is an entrepreneur from Eswatini and the founder of Happiness Junction Cafe, an award-winning youth-owned business launched in 2021 and known for its warm hospitality and innovative offerings. A 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards winner, Selusiwe was selected for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed an intensive six-week program focused on business leadership, entrepreneurship, and networking with global change-makers.

Celestina Langa, a Mozambican entrepreneur passionate about transforming society's diet and nutritional habits

Celestina Langa is the founder and ceo of Nutrekaya CL,Su, Ltd in Mozambique, a company dedicated to agro-processing and the valorization of local food products, with a focus on dietary health and nutritional well-being. Her entrepreneurial trajectory is marked by a strong dedication to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions in the food sector. Celestina has a degree in Food Sciences from the Pedagogical University of Mozambique and, throughout her career, has continually dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and skills. She is currently completing her Master of Business in the Street (MBS) at Interweave Solutions Academy, which has provided her with strategic vision and improved skills in business management, further strengthening her profile as an entrepreneur and leader.

Mercia Bie, a Mozambican entrepreneur on a mission to bring natural flavours to her customers’ cuisines

Mercia Bie, founder of Sabor Caseiro 2A in Mozambique is building an agri-processing business where each seasoning tells a story and each dish is an experience. Her mission is to bring natural flavor and authenticity to customers' tables, whether at home or at special events. Mercia’s vision is to create a line of seasonings that not only enhance the flavor of dishes, but also make a nutritional contribution to our lives. The company’s brand values focus on ethics and transparency, appreciation and involvement in human capital, respect and trust in customers.

Isabel Messias Tonela, a young Mozambican entrepreneur building a food processing business turning tubers into flour and chips

Isabel Messias Tonela is a young Mozambican entrepreneur and the founder of SBEL & Farinhas, SU, LDA, a company focused on processing tubers for the production of flour and Chips. The company was founded in 2024 and is in its embryonic phase after Isabel won the Business Plan Competition implemented by (SEJE), through INJ and with the support of the World Bank. She is also a final year student on the Aquatic and Coastal Marine Biology course at Eduardo Mondlane University.

Kelebogile Phendu, a traditional ginger drink manufacturer in Botswana turning a family recipe into a commercial brand

Kelebogile Phendu is the founder and ceo of Botswana ginger drink brand, Kells Ginger. Her business manufactures traditional recipe ginger drinks but with a contemporary freshness and a purity of ginger taste. She founded the business in 2019 and now employs 2 people from the local community. Kelebogile brings more than 5 years of experience as an entrepreneur in different fields to her business and brand.

Keneilwe Latoya Molomo, a foodpreneur building a delicious new chilli relish brand in Botswana

Keneilwe Latoya Molomo is the founder of Toya's Homemade Chilli in Botswana. She is new to the entrepreneurial world and launched her company in December 2022. A Diplomat by profession, Keneilwe hopes to get her product into retail outlets countrywide and eventually to break into export markets.

Lovable Dladla, a South African entrepreneur building a growing bakery and baby food business

Lovable Shiro Dladla is the founder of Luvast emp in South Africa, the umbrella company for her two companies, Luvast Bakery and Luvast Baby Pureer. Luvast emp started in 2020 and has been growing ever since. Luvast bakery deals with baked goods and also teaches baking lessons and caters specifically for children’s events. Luvast baby food for now just deals with baby food puree, an organic baby food puree with no preservatives or sweeteners. The business makes its baby food in its most natural form, and is currently in the process of being approved.

Olubunmi Otufowora, a Nigerian pioneer building a growing nutritious drinks brand

Olubunmi Otufowora is the founder of Boomsky Smoothies, a leading indigenous fruit processing and distribution company in Nigeria that produces 100% natural smoothies and juices. Operating for over a decade, Boomsky Smoothies was founded in 2010 and has bridged the gap between nutrition and busy executives who want a healthy drink on the go. With more than 14 years of experience in various senior leadership roles in one of Nigeria's top telecommunications firms, her strong professional insight has been instrumental in her success. Her passion for promoting healthy living through natural fruit drinks is evident in her company's exceptional growth and impact. Olubunmi is committed to positively impacting Nigeria's society by reducing post-harvest food loss. Her business is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 12, and her efforts are reflected in the sustainable growth of Boomsky Smoothies over the years. Today the business employs 28 people.

Natercia Jone, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a specialist artisanal liqueur brand

Natercia Jone is a Mozambican entrepreneur and the founder of Dione’s Liquor, with more than 20 years of experience having operated in the cleaning and gardening, confectionery sectors. She is currently dedicated to building her business and brand, Dione's Liquor, which is focused on the production of liqueurs based on fruits, herbs and currently operating in the national market.

Forget Shareka, an award-winning agro-processing entrepreneur in Zimbabwe tackling post-harvest food waste

Forget Shareka is the founder of Chashi Foods in Zimbabwe, and also a farmer, vibrant agronomic engineer, award-winning entrepreneur, environmental management, and sustainability professional. She is passionate about agribusiness, sustainable food systems, sustainability, community development, youth and women empowerment, and climate action. Her academic background is in agricultural sciences, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She is the founder and business development director for Chashi Foods, an agro-processing company committed to reducing postharvest and food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, she works in the Environmental, Social, and Governance field (ESG) in Telecommunications.

Yolanda Matine, a Mozambican entrepreneur helping families to prepare healthy lunchboxes for children

Yolanda Matine is the founder of MomlifeMarmitas in Mozambique, a business idea inspired by her two daughters. Yolanda has taken various entrepreneurial routes in the past 10 years, but has now arrived at her destination, doing what she loves the most, which is cooking. She is using this love to help caretakers (moms, dads, grannies, aunties, uncles, helpers) to make healthy lunchboxes (with less processed food) for their children, while at the same time creating incredible food memories. MomlifeMarmitas offers courses with weekly menus, recipes, weekly shopping lists, lunchbox set ups, bento boxes, accessories, and an eBook with more than 25 recipes, tips on food storage, and lunchbox plans.

Ama Brenya, a Ghanaian entrepreneur building a wholesale bakery products manufacturing business

Ama Brenya is the founder and ceo of LADL Patisserie Company Limited in Ghana. She has about 10 years’ experience working in the mining industry as a Chemical Engineer and three years working in the banking sector in supply and logistics management. She officially ventured in to entrepreneurship since 2017, operating a brick and mortar pastry shop and then added a mobile food truck from which she sold pastries along some streets in the business district in Accra. During the pandemic in 2020, it became necessary to rethink her business strategy in order to remain relevant and resilient. During the lockdown, the idea of producing frozen croissants and bread rolls was birthed.

Sizolwenkosi Mazolo, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a value-add agro-processing business

Sizolwenkosi Mazolo is the founder of Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd, a small business based in Zimbabwe and in the value addition agro-processing sector. Ingcebethu uses a 3-way model which is Freezing, Canning and Drying fruits and vegetables in the bid to reduce food waste, post-harvest losses, as well as to promote food security in Africa. Sizolwenkosi has been awarded a number of accolades for her work which include: 2022 JCI TOYP Honouree, Top 20 Young CEOs by CEO Roundtable Africa 2022, as well as the Record Breaker Young CEOs by Zimbabwe CEOs Network 2022 among others. She is a YALI RLC alumni and her business was in the top 10 finalists in the 2022 Eagles Nest Incubation program by Zimtrade. In line with her mission to address food security, Sizolwenkosi volunteers at The Mobi Soup Kitchen where approximately 600 children are fed every week at a squatter camp in Harare.

Saajidah and Mubinah Esat, entrepreneurs creating a great Indian food cafe experience in Zimbabwe

Saajidah Esat and her sister Mubinah are the co-founders of Zen Cafe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Having being brought up in an Indian home, where the focus was always around food, they spent most of their time whipping up new recipes and cooking for the family. They first ventured into the food industry while living and studying in South Africa. They sold food at a popular Johannesburg food market and catered for several corporate events. Zen Cafe was born out of a desire to create and bring something different to the Zimbabwean market. The cafe employs 6 full time staff, including the 2 sisters and has been in operation for the past 6 months.

Bontle Tshole, a South African entrepreneur passionate about healthy eating

Bontle Tshole is a healthy eating and responsible food advocate, and the founder of Baaa Health & Luminary Thrivist in South Africa. She started her entrepreneurial journey early on in her life through the time she invested in assisting her mother in the family business at age nine. Over time she grew to love business and the endless opportunities it offered to her. It was during her tertiary studies that she began what was then called Baaa Smoothie Bar, now Baaa Health, in 2017 and has grown its reach and capacity since then. Baaa is a health bar that is changing the narrative of access to healthy eating by promoting responsible food choices through the provision of healthy quality food, addressing UN Sustainability Development Goal 3.

Mariama Dia, a Senegalese entrepreneur transforming local fruits into natural retail products

Mariama Dia is the founder of Delices Casamançaises in Senegal. She is married and the mother of two children, and holds a masters degree in geography. Being from Casamance, which is a forest region located in the south of Senegal, she witnesses every day the destruction of fruits resulting from overproduction. This is what led to her decision to launch her business, Delices Casamançaises with the aim of transforming the fruits to allow consumers to enjoy 12 months of the previously only seasonally available fruits.

Rita Da Silva, a Mozambican entrepreneur revolutionizing the idea of ice cream in the country

Rita Da Silva is the founder of Zhizha in Mozambique, an artisan ice cream business based on Italian techniques using the best local ingredients. Rita uses classic Italian ice cream processes to achieve the texture and flavor without having to resort to artificial stabilizers and emulsifiers. Each flavor is produced by Zhizha with a specially developed recipe. Rita looks for the best local solutions and believes that it’s part of her mission to contribute to the growth of other businesses, namely small agricultural producers. Zhizha wants to revolutionize the idea of ice cream in Mozambique.

Georgina de Kock, a South African eco-innovator disrupting plastic pollution

Georgina de Kock is the founder, product developer and a director of Munch Innovation (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. She is a seasoned entrepreneur who has won many awards and she is a devoted business leader. Georgina was a financial advisor and owned a photographic, design and screen-printing business, Georgi 'D". She made a career change to follow her passion to something she believed in which is to help disrupt plastic waste to help save our environment making a difference that matters. Today, her business also employs 7 people, creating local green jobs.

Adeola Ayeni-Obimakide, a Nigerian entrepreneur growing a successful grocery retail business

Adeola Ayeni-Obimakinde is the Founder and CEO of Koreteegold Food & Grocery Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a serial entrepreneur, a mom, a visionary leader, and a goal-getter with an award-winning business. Adeola is focused on putting a smile on the faces of busy moms and the elderly by providing solutions to their stressful food and grocery purchases and delivery in major cities in Nigeria. She also focuses on the packaging of safe agro products for Nigerians in the Diaspora. Adeola has over 5 years of business experience, as well as over 10 years as a former corporate executive with a multinational company and one of the country's leading banks.

Adele Mans, a South African entrepreneur creating a food business catering for pets

Every pet owner wants the best for their beloved furry friends, including giving them healthy diets, and that’s where Adele Mans, co-founder of Bismark’s Bistro, is on hand to help. Her business provides pet owners with healthy and well-balanced food and customized eating plans to keep their dogs and cats healthy and happy.

Tatyana Moeda, an Angolan entrepreneur turning a passion for baking into a successful cake business

If you appreciate how special a good cake can be, and how a great cake can make any occasion truly memorable, then Miss Cake, founded by Tatyana Moeda in Angola is a business you need to check out. It creates delicious cakes for every type of event, from an afternoon tea to a celebratory party, and is building a great reputation for her products with clients.

Charlotte Flavienne Binya, an innovative agri-food processing entrepreneur from Cameroon

Charlotte Binya is the founder of Country Foods SARL which is an agri-food company based in Douala, Cameroon, producing products such as fish, pork, beef sausages, natural jams, natural fruit juices and peanut butter. Holder of an engineering diploma in transformation and quality control of fishery products, Charlotte is also a trainer in the food industry and delivers several training courses in the food industry, as well as with international organizations, individuals or companies wishing to update their teams in the food industry.

Princess Adeyinka Tekenah, a Nigerian coffee entrepreneur building an indigenous coffee brand

Princess Adeyinka Tekenah is a Mom and Coffee Entrepreneur, and the founder of an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand and company, Happy Coffee. She is a pacesetter in the Nigerian Coffee Industry. She remains an integral member of the nation building process and enjoys travelling. She also believes that Human Relationships are crucial to the overall optimization of our human experience and existence.

Fátima Suliman, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning a passion for cookie-making into a successful business

Fátima Suliman is the founder and CEO of the company Cookie World. The company is based in Maputo Mozambique. She is an aspiring pastry chef. Fátima's business is focused on decorated sugar cookies and macarons mostly for parties and events. She founded the company 3 years ago in 2018. Fátima believes in women empowerment and her employees are women. She is hoping to open a pastry shop soon.

Chikondi Agatha Michongwe, a passionate lifestyle entrepreneur raising awareness of the benefits of veganism

Chikondi Michongwe is the co-founder of Serene Vegan Co. in Tanzania. She is a passionate plant-based lifestyle entrepreneur who believes in the wellness of both the mind and body. Chikondi's start-up aims to raise awareness of the goodness and benefits of a plant-based diet and to do away with the stereotype that a vegan diet is bland and unexciting. She has more than 15 years of entrepreneurial experience and has gotten her hand in many business ventures over the years.

Iolanda Almeida, a Mozambican coffeepreneur supporting local coffee farmers

Iolanda Almeida is the founder and CEO of INMA LIMITADA based in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. She is a coffeepreneur and award-winning enterprise leader in Mozambique for the NEPAD SAN Bio Phase II BioFISA FEM BioBiz Programme. Iolanda’s business is focused on processing coffee from Ibo Island in Mozambique´s World Biosphere Reserve for the internal market. She founded the business in 2015 to support almost 150 Ibo Coffee farmers, for social inclusion and local development.

At Lionesses of Africa, we also encourage everyone visiting our website and social media platforms to nominate those African Women food and drink entrepreneurs from around the continent that inspire them, and we will happily profile them during the coming weeks. Click here to make your nomination. Our Focus on African Women Food and Drink entrepreneurs is all about showcasing the best and most inspirational women working and building businesses in these highly competitive industry sectors in Africa, so be part of the process and make a difference to a woman food and drink entrepreneur that inspires you.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.