YYTZ Agro-Processing

What YYTZ Agro-Processing does

YYTZ Agro-Processing is a Tanzanian cashew processing company that sources raw cashew nuts from smallholder farmers and women's cooperatives in the Mtwara, Singida, and Lindi regions, and converts them into graded kernels (White Wholes WW210, WW240, WW320), Scorched Wholes, White Pieces, Scorched Pieces, dry roasted, and flavoured cashews. Its fully mechanized flagship facility sits in the Zanzibar Export Processing Zone, three kilometers from the seaport, and operates under HACCP and ISO 22000 certifications with an integrated Internal Control System that enables farm-to-customer traceability. Processing know-how and equipment standards were transferred from the founders' prior Vietnam operations. The company is privately held, co-founded by Fahad Awadh and Ali Awadh, and reports 11-50 employees.

The business operates a hybrid B2B and emerging B2B2C model. Core revenue comes from exporting graded cashew kernels and ingredients to international food distributors and retailers across East Africa (Kenya), Europe (UK, Nordic countries), and North America (Canada, USA). Distribution is supported by a warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario that enables direct delivery to North American customers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by grade, with the company offering both commodity-grade kernels and value-added flavored/dry roasted SKUs. A consumer sub-brand, 'More than Cashews', was launched at Natural Products Expo West 2022 to access the US natural products retail channel, positioning Tanzanian single-origin cashews with a social-impact narrative. The company has raised approximately $2.15 million cumulatively, including a $850,000 SEC offering in December 2021 and a $1.3 million seed round with Rabobank Foundation in March 2022. Strategic partners include the African Cashew Alliance, Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute, the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania, UNIDO, and SIDO, which collectively support farmer training, hybrid seed supply, and small-scale processing capacity among women's groups.

Name

YYTZ Agro-Processing

Legal name

YYTZ Agro-Processing Co. Ltd.

Website

https://yytzagro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YYTZ Agro-Processing is a Tanzanian cashew processor that sources raw nuts from smallholder farmers and women's cooperatives, mechanically processes them into graded kernels and flavoured cashews under HACCP/ISO 22000 standards in Zanzibar, and exports to distributors and retailers across East Africa, Europe, and North America via a Mississauga warehouse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cashew Nut Processing

NAICS

Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423), Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (424590)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Dried & Dehydrated Foods Manufacturing (AFAKACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAM), Natural, Organic & Health Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAK)

Keywords

• Cashew processing
• Cashew kernel export
• Nut manufacturing
• Agro-processing services
• Sustainable sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cashew Kernel Processing and Export: YYTZ sources raw cashews from women's cooperatives and smallholder farmers in Tanzania, processes them into retail products (graded cashew kernels in sizes WW320, WW240, WW210, dry roasted, and flavoured cashews), and exports to international markets including Kenya, the UK, the Nordic countries, and Canada.
2. Branded Consumer Products: The company sells branded products under the 'More than Cashews' label targeting retail consumers in North America and other markets, emphasising single origin, fresh cashews traceable from farm to table.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YYTZ Agro-Processing is a Tanzanian cashew processing company that sources raw cashew nuts from smallholder farmers and women's cooperatives in the Mtwara region and processes them into graded cashew kernels (WW210, WW240, WW320), dry roasted and flavoured cashews, white pieces and scorched varieties. The company operates a fully-mechanised HACCP and ISO 22000 compliant processing facility in the Zanzibar Export Processing Zone and distributes its products internationally under its own 'More than Cashews' consumer brand and as bulk B2B shipments.

Product overview

YYTZ Agro-Processing is a cashew processing company offering graded cashew kernels (White Wholes in WW210, WW240, WW320 sizes), dry roasted cashews, and flavoured cashews. Their consumer brand is 'More than Cashews', featuring single origin fresh cashews traceable from farm to table. Additional products include White Pieces (LWP, SWP) and Scorched varieties (Scorched Wholes and Scorched Pieces). The company sources from smallholder farmers and women's cooperatives in Tanzania's Mtwara region, processes at their Zanzibar Export Processing Zone facility, and distributes from Mississauga, Canada to North American markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• More than Cashews: A product brand featuring Tanzanian cashews, positioned as a brand born and produced in Africa with a social mission of helping farmers and women earn more from their cashews.

Products and services

• White Wholes (WW210, WW240, WW320) Whole cashew kernels classified by size, neither broken nor split, with grades WW210 (largest kernels, approximately 210 per pound), WW240 (approximately 240 per pound), and WW320 (smallest whole grade). Sold to B2B distributors and retailers for further distribution and use in food manufacturing.
• Scorched Wholes (SW, SW210, SW240, SW320) Whole cashew kernels that have been slightly burnt or scorched during roasting, considered secondary quality. Graded in sizes SW, SW210, SW240 and SW320. Sold primarily to B2B buyers for ingredient and food service applications.
• White Pieces (LWP, SWP) Cashew kernel pieces classified by size as Large White Pieces (LWP) and Small White Pieces (SWP), for B2B customers requiring broken kernel ingredients.
• Scorched Pieces (SP, SSP) Scorched cashew kernel pieces classified by size as Scorched Pieces (SP) and Small Scorched Pieces/Scorched Pieces Seconds (SSP). Sold as secondary-quality B2B ingredients.
• Dry Roasted Cashews Cashews that have been dry roasted for enhanced flavor and texture. Sold as a finished retail and food service product.
• Flavoured Cashews Cashews with added flavours as part of the company's value-added product portfolio. Sold to B2B and consumer retail channels.
• More than Cashews Consumer brand of single-origin fresh Tanzanian cashews positioned as fully traceable from farm to table, with a social mission of helping smallholder farmers and women's groups earn more from their cashews. Targeted at health-conscious consumers in North America and other markets.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYYTZ collaborates with NARI for cashew farmer training, hybrid seed supply, and technical expertise. The institute has one of the best cashew research programs in the world and supports YYTZ's farmer capacity building programs.
• Cashewnut Board of TanzaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cashewnut Board of Tanzania provides support including hybrid seeds, farmer training coordination, and infrastructure support for farmer processing centres. Working together on cashew development programs.
• African Cashew Alliance (ACA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFahad Awadh serves as ACA Ambassador for Tanzania. YYTZ benefits from ACA's technical assistance, industry advocacy, equipment reports, and market access support. ACA promotes cashew processing across Africa.
• Entrepreneur's Organization (EO)minorOthersFahad Awadh is a member of EO's chapter in Dar es Salaam. EO provides networking, mentorship, and growth opportunities for entrepreneurs. Fahad coaches student entrepreneurs through EO's GSEA competition.
• USAIDminorOthersUSAID supported FDA-approved food safety training facilitated by Kenya Bureau of Standards, providing YYTZ with roadmap for implementing preventive controls to meet FDA requirements for US exports.
• Tanzania Local Enterprise Development (T-LED)minorOthersT-LED is funded by Global Affairs Canada and supports local SMEs to overcome barriers, with attention to female-headed SMEs, helping access growth markets in agribusiness value chains.
• UNIDOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIDO supported women's processing groups (Mama Vitu Super Cashew Nut group) with shelling tables, peeling tables, boiler for steaming, dryer, and warehouse construction, building local processing capacity.
• SIDO (Small Industries Development Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIDO provided manual shelling tables to women's processing groups in Mtwara region, supporting small-scale processors to participate in cashew value addition.
• Inclusive Business Action Network (IBAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYYTZ featured in IBAN interview discussing cashew processing in Tanzania and inclusive business approach with women's processing groups and smallholder farmers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Long Son JSC: Vietnam-based cashew processor and exporter - one of Asia's largest cashew kernel suppliers. Comparable to YYTZ in product range (graded WW kernels, pieces, roasted) but competing from a much larger, lower-cost Asian processing base.
• Bharat Agri: Indian cashew processor producing graded kernels (W240, W320, etc.), pieces and flavoured cashews for export. Comparable product portfolio to YYTZ but operating from the dominant Asian processing hub that YYTZ is positioning against.

Direct peers

• Johnvents Industries: Nigerian agro-processing group with cashew and cocoa operations, sourcing from West African smallholders for export. Comparable to YYTZ as an African agro-processor building inclusive supply chains and value-added processing capacity.
• Ivory Cashew (SITRACI / Ivorian cashew processors): Ivorian cashew processing company focused on adding value locally in Côte d'Ivoire, one of Africa's largest cashew producers. Directly comparable to YYTZ as an African cashew processor targeting export markets with traceable, locally-processed kernels.
• Caju BV: Netherlands-based cashew importer that sources raw and processed kernels from West African processors for European retail and food-service buyers. Comparable to YYTZ as a buyer and partner for traceable African cashew kernels in European markets.
• Red River Foods: US-based cashew importer and ingredient supplier that sources and processes cashews from Africa and Asia for retail, food-service and ingredient customers. Closely comparable to YYTZ in offering graded kernels (WW240, WW320), pieces and value-added cashew ingredients with traceability and quality certifications.
• Mim Cashews (Mim Cashew & Agricultural Products Ltd.): Ghanaian cashew processing company operating a mechanised facility and sourcing from West African smallholders for export markets. Directly comparable to YYTZ as an African cashew processor focused on quality, traceability and international B2B buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds (The Wonderful Company): Large branded nuts and snacks company with retail presence in North America and globally. Relevant peer to YYTZ's 'More than Cashews' brand ambitions as a benchmark for premium branded nut retail positioning and supply chain scale.
• Olam Food Ingredients (ofi): Global agri-business (now part of Olam Group) with a large cashew processing and trading business across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Comparable to YYTZ as a vertically-integrated cashew processor sourcing from African smallholders, but at vastly greater scale and across multiple commodities.
• Planters (Hormel Foods): Iconic US nut brand (now owned by Hormel Foods) selling packaged cashews, mixed nuts and snacks through mainstream retail. Comparable to YYTZ's consumer ambitions as a benchmark for shelf-space competition in US grocery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yytz-agro-processing

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YYTZ Agro-Processing