Cato Foods

What Cato Foods does

Cato Foods (legal entity: Catofoods Limited) is a Nigerian private food-processing social enterprise headquartered in Iwo, Osun State, founded in 2014. It transforms locally grown staple crops — primarily cassava, plus maize and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes — into safe, affordable, nutrient-rich food products, with a stated emphasis on biofortification, particularly Vitamin A enrichment. The company positions itself as a pioneer in commercial processing of biofortified Vitamin A cassava in Nigeria, using controlled fermentation, mechanized sieving, multi-stage filtration, and hygienic roasting and drying to retain micronutrients and deliver stone-free, low-odor finished products.

The product portfolio spans core staples (Lafun cassava flour, Yam Flour, Odourless Fufu Powder, Ijebu Garri, Yellow Garri, Garri Plus, High-Quality Cassava Flour) and newer biofortified and convenience lines (FufuPlus Vitamin A fufu, CASSTARD custard, WITTYBITES snack). Production runs on installed capacity of 30 metric tons per day at a single processing facility in Osun State, with output sold in packaging sizes from 500 g to 50 kg across pricing tiers ranging roughly ₦1,250 to ₦150,000 per unit. The business operates an integrated farm-to-table model: it cultivates climate-resilient improved cassava varieties and aggregates from a network of more than 2,000 smallholder farmers across 800+ hectares and 100+ rural communities.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of branded products via an e-commerce storefront, phone/WhatsApp ordering, and retail/wholesale channels; (2) institutional supply to schools, NGOs, and government feeding and food-security programs; (3) contract manufacturing and private-label packaging services for third-party brands; and (4) export to diaspora markets in the UK, US, and other countries. Customer segments are horizontally diversified across base-of-pyramid consumers, institutional buyers, retail/hospitality, health-conscious urban consumers, diaspora, and food-brand customers. The company operates with an inclusive workforce (stated 65% women, 80% youth, 150+ direct/indirect jobs created) and is anchored by development partnerships with IFDC (via 2SCALE), BATNF, IDH, HarvestPlus, IFAD, and others.

Name

Cato Foods

Legal name

Catofoods Limited

Website

https://catofoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cato Foods is a Nigerian food-processing social enterprise that converts locally grown cassava, maize, and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes into affordable, nutrient-rich staple products — including biofortified Vitamin A garri, fufu, and cassava flour — serving base-of-pyramid households, schools and NGOs, retail and diaspora markets, and food brands via contract manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cassava-based Staple Food Processing

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Cassava (Tapioca) Farming (AFAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sweet Potato Farming (Starch/Industrial Use) (AFAGAEAE), Other Starch Root & Tuber Farming (Yams, Taro, Arrowroot) (AFAGAEAJ), Starches, Flours & Milling Products Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Cassava flour processing
• Biofortified food manufacturing
• Staple crop processing
• Vitamin A fortification
• Contract food packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Ileogbo, Iwo

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food Production and Sales: Manufacturing and direct sales of nutrient-rich food products including garri, fufu, cassava flour, and yam flour to consumers, retailers, and institutions. Revenue generated through product sales with various packaging sizes (1KG to 50KG).
2. Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Services: Provides food processing, private label production, and custom packaging services for individuals, brands, and organizations. Helps other brands launch and scale food products with expert processing and packaging solutions.
3. Food Distribution Supply: Supplies nutritious foods to individuals, schools, NGOs, wholesalers, and institutions. Includes export services for international markets including diaspora communities globally.
4. Primary Cultivation/Outgrower Partnerships: Cultivates climate-resilient improved cassava varieties through structured farm operations and strong outgrower partnerships, aggregating raw materials from smallholder farmers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cato Foods processes locally grown staple crops (cassava, maize, and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes) into safe, affordable, and nutrient-rich food products including garri variants, cassava flour (Lafun and HQCF), fufu, yam flour, custard (CASSTARD), and snacks (WITTYBITES). It also provides contract food manufacturing and custom packaging services for other brands and operates a vertically integrated supply chain built on smallholder farmer outgrower partnerships.

Product overview

Cato Foods is a healthy food processing social enterprise that transforms locally grown staple crops (Cassava, Maize, and Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes) into safe, affordable, and nutrient-rich food products. The product portfolio centers on garri products (Yellow Garri, Ijebu Garri, Garri Plus), cassava flour products (Lafun, HIGH-QUALITY CASSAVA FLOUR/HQCF), fufu products (Odourless Fufu Powder, FufuPlus Vitamin A Fufu), Yam Flour, and specialty foods (CASSTARD custard, WITTYBITES snacks). The company operates as a single unified product line with services including nutritious food production, contract manufacturing and packaging, food distribution, primary cultivation, export services, custom branded packaging, and capacity building for farmers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lafun: Cassava flour product line
• Garri Plus
• Ijebu Garri
• Yellow Garri
• Odourless Fufu Powder
• FufuPlus
• Casstard
• WITTYBITES
• HIGH-QUALITY CASSAVA FLOUR (HQCF)

Products and services

• Lafun (Cassava Flour) Cassava flour made from 100% carefully selected cassava roots processed under strict hygienic standards. Naturally gluten-free with smooth texture for lump-free swallow preparation, sold in 2KG, 5KG, 25KG, and 50KG packs at ₦2,000.00–₦33,000.00. Targets homes, caterers, and restaurants.
• Yam Flour 100% yam tuber flour finely milled for smooth, lump-free amala preparation with no additives or preservatives, sold at ₦3,500.00–₦150,000.00. Targets households and traditional cuisine preparation.
• Garri Plus 3-in-1 ready-to-enjoy blend of high-quality garri, milk, and sugar. Just add water and stir, sold in 500G and 1KG packs at ₦1,500.00–₦2,800.00. Targets busy mornings and quick meals.
• Odourless Fufu Powder Fufu powder with minimal odor retention, smooth elastic texture, high hygiene standards, and extended shelf stability. Available in 1KG, 5KG, 25KG, and 50KG and cartons of 10x1KG at ₦1,700.00–₦58,000.00. Targets homes, hospitality, and export markets.
• Ijebu Garri Stone-free Ijebu Garri with fine grain texture and crisp, refreshing taste. Processed under controlled conditions with thorough washing, mechanized sieving, and quality inspection, sold at ₦1,250.00–₦38,000.00. Targets households, retail, and hospitality businesses requiring consistent quality.
• Yellow Garri (Biofortified Vitamin A) Processed from biofortified Vitamin A cassava rich in beta-carotene, with rich golden color and smooth grain texture. Available in 1KG, 5KG, 25KG, and 50KG packs at ₦1,400.00–₦46,000.00. Targets health-conscious households and nutrition programs.
• High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) Gluten-free, versatile cassava flour with excellent binding quality and smooth texture for bakeries, food processors, and home cooking. Industry-ready, available with a Vitamin A flour variant, priced at ₦1,500.00–₦58,000.00.
• FufuPlus (Vitamin A Fufu) Made from biofortified Vitamin A cassava with no palm oil added, rich in natural beta-carotene. Lower in starch, high in fiber, 100% vegan. Targets health-focused households and nutrition programs.
• CASSTARD (Vitamin A Cassava Custard) Nutrient-enriched custard made from Vitamin A cassava supporting eyesight, immunity, growth, and brain development. Smooth and suitable for all ages, available in Vanilla, Banana, and Strawberry flavors.
• WITTYBITES Crunchy, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly snack enjoyed as cereal flakes or healthy snack. Targets health-conscious consumers and smart-snacking households.
• Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Services Food processing, private label production, and custom packaging services that help individuals, brands, and organizations launch and scale food products with expert processing and packaging solutions. Targets food entrepreneurs and emerging brands.
• Food Distribution and Institutional Supply Supply of nutritious foods to individuals, schools, NGOs, wholesalers, and institutions, including export services for diaspora communities in markets such as the UK and US. Targets retail, institutional, and international customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 300,000 base-of-pyramid consumers with nutritious food products
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BATNF (British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting 100 smallholder farmers to cultivate climate-resilient improved varieties of cassava in 2025. Partnership focused on enhancing farmer productivity and livelihoods through climate-smart agriculture.
• IDH (Sustainable Trade Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting 1,000 young women smallholder farmers under the 'Women in Sourcing Enterprise' program across different farm clusters to cultivate improved varieties of cassava. Focus on women's economic empowerment.
• 2SCALEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program connecting Cato Foods with smallholder farmers through IFDC. Enables farmer capacity building, market access, and agronomic support for biofortified crop value chains.
• HarvestPluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on biofortification of crops. Supports Cato Foods' work with biofortified Vitamin A cassava varieties for improved nutritional content in consumer products.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting agricultural and rural development. Partner in initiatives to empower smallholder farmers and improve food security in rural communities.
• Primary Healthcare CentresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with healthcare centers to train women on preparing nutritious meals using biofortified crops such as cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. Supports maternal and child nutrition outcomes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global food and ingredient company with African operations in cocoa, grains, and food ingredients. Broad incumbent with relevant food processing capabilities and nutrition-focused product lines.
• BUA Foods: Leading Nigerian food processing company producing flour, sugar, pasta, and edible oils. Broad incumbent in Nigerian food manufacturing with similar distribution and retail channels.
• Olam Agri: Global food and agri-business with significant operations in Nigeria across grains, edible oils, and processed foods. Broad incumbent in Nigerian food supply chain with extensive smallholder farmer programs.
• Flour Mills of Nigeria: One of Nigeria's largest food and agro-allied companies, producing flour, pasta, and processed foods. Broad incumbent in Nigerian flour/staple food manufacturing with overlapping HQCF/milling operations.

Regional players

• Thai Food Group (Siam Cassava): Thailand-based cassava processor producing starch, flour, and biofortified cassava products. Comparable in cassava processing technology and biofortification focus, but operates in Southeast Asia not West Africa.

Others

• HarvestPlus: Global leader in crop biofortification, partnering with Cato Foods on biofortified cassava varieties. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor; comparable mission and technology focus.
• IFDC (International Fertilizer Development Center): International development organization supporting soil fertility and agricultural productivity in Africa. Strategic partner on Cato Foods' $700K PPP; comparable focus on smallholder farmer productivity.

Direct peers

• Psaltry International: Nigerian cassava processor producing food-grade starch, High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), and glucose syrup for industrial buyers. Direct peer in vertically-integrated cassava processing in Nigeria.
• Dantata Foods & Agro Ltd: Nigerian food processing company producing range of staple foods including garri, cassava derivatives, and other agro products. Direct peer in Nigerian processed staple food market.
• Niji Group: Nigerian agro-processing company focused on cassava and tropical crops, with processing facilities and smallholder farmer networks. Direct peer in vertically-integrated cassava processing and farmer engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catofoodsNG
• Facebookfacebook.com/catofood
• InstagramInstagram.com/catofoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cato-foods-and-agro-allied-global-concepts

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cato Foods