In Nigeria’s fast-moving tech scene, where ride-hailing and consumer delivery platforms have dominated headlines, a different kind of food startup is quietly carving out its own lane.
Pocketfood is a workplace benefit platform aiming to make food a part of how companies attract and retain talent. It’s not just another meal delivery app, but a system that works for B2B.
Founded in 2022 and now operating in Lagos, Abuja, and Ibadan, Pocketfood’s core product is simple: give companies a way to plan, order, and deliver meals to their teams without the usual headaches of vendor management, ad hoc deliveries, or budget sprawl.
In practice, Pocketfood builds a menu from vetted vendors, sets payment preferences, invites employees, and lets the system handle the rest, from placing orders to tracking deliveries.
More than convenience, the company argues, this is about culture. Nigeria’s office workers still face a lunch landscape made up of long queues in canteens, overpriced restaurant meals or risky/unhealthy street food stalls.
That gap isn’t just an inconvenience , it costs time, chips away at productivity, and, companies increasingly believe, can affect staff retention.
Pocketfood’s data highlights how structured meal programs can remove that friction and keep employees focused.
Behind the product is CEO and founder Omolara Olarerin, who has spoken publicly about how her own struggle with office lunch options sparked the idea for the business. Pocketfood started as a subscription-styled lunch delivery solution and has since expanded into a full B2B meal management dashboard that blends technology with the operational realities of African workplaces.
When asked what set the startup apart from other food delivery apps, especially Chow Deck, Omolara’s answer is that the platform integrates food into work life in a way that feels like a benefit, not an expense item to juggle every week.
Admins get real-time reporting on spend, patterns, and vendor performance; employees see meal options tailored to dietary needs; and everyone avoids the daily scramble of deciding what, or where, to eat.
The company claims it has delivered hundreds of thousands of meals and works with dozens of verified vendors, a sign that the product’s appeal goes beyond ticking a wellness box.
For businesses, meal programs are increasingly seen as a practical lever to improve morale, reduce time wasted on logistics, and even boost productivity.
Pocketfood’s journey also reflects a broader shift in African startups: moving beyond flashy consumer plays to deep, practical B2B solutions that change how organisations run day-to-day operations.
In a labour market where every advantage counts, turning lunch from a personal problem into a workplace perk might seem simple, but it’s the kind of small shift that can make a big difference.
