Nigeria’s coffee industry has long been overlooked despite its potential. However, with revenue projected to reach $89.10 million in 2024, the market is ripe for innovation. Princess Adeyinka Tekenah, CEO of Happy Coffee, spearheads the charge to revitalise Nigeria’s local coffee industry.
The country’s coffee segment is expected to earn $2 billion in the next two to three years, driven by growing demand from developed economies. Nigeria’s coffee production has faced numerous challenges, including low output and poor quality. Imported brands have flooded the market, impacting local coffee production. Meanwhile, coffee consumption in Nigeria has remained stable since 2019, with approximately 40.20 thousand units consumed in 2023.
Innovative solutions are necessary to reverse the trend of declining production. The demand for coffee in Nigeria is projected to climb to approximately 8,700 metric tons by 2028, up from 8,000 metric tons in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 1.2%. This growing demand presents opportunities for local players like Happy Coffee to make a mark.
Tekenah’s passion for revitalising Nigeria’s coffee industry stems from her entrepreneurial background and inspiration from the Starbucks story. With over 20 years of experience in sales and a degree in Business Management, Adeyinka is committed to empowering smallholder coffee farmers and promoting social responsibility. Her vision for Happy Coffee is to become Nigeria’s first indigenous, female-led coffee franchise, providing access to African-grown coffee.
“I believe that empowered women empower other women. At Happy Coffee, we’re dedicated to assisting female farmers and women start their businesses, supporting their communities.” – Princess Adeyinka Tekenah, Founder of Happy Coffee.
Happy Coffee pioneers innovative solutions to Nigeria’s coffee challenges. It sources high-quality local coffee beans from the Mambilla Plateau, Taraba. Its unique processing and roasting methods stand out in taste and quality.
The award-winning coffee brand offers mobile cafe services, coffee catering, barista training, and cafe setup programs. It has improved the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and contributed to the growth of the local coffee value chain. By championing Nigerian-grown coffee, Happy Coffee is pivotal in promoting the local coffee value chain, helping elevate Nigerian coffee’s visibility on both national and global levels. Through its commitment to quality and the empowerment of local coffee farmers, the brand has positioned itself as a leader in advocating sustainable growth within Nigeria’s coffee industry.
As a recipient of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs Foundation award, Tekenah continues to mentor women across Nigeria’s business ecosystem. With years of experience, Happy Coffee’s dynamic team drives its mission. As it pursues social responsibility and empowerment, the brand transforms Nigeria’s coffee industry.
Happy Coffee’s impact has been remarkable. Over six years of operation, the company has served over 30,000 cups of coffee, established three Coffee Experience Centers, and designed ten market-fit coffee products. Happy Coffee’s revenue has grown to over $80,000 since its inception with a $5,000 seed grant in 2015.
Despite challenges in accessing funding, Happy Coffee has scaled through bootstrapping and investing back profits. Tekenah advises aspiring entrepreneurs to “Be willing to adapt to change and be innovative. Invest in your team… Keep pushing against all odds, and don’t be scared to fail.”
Looking ahead, Happy Coffee aims to grow revenue to $2 million and expand to five Nigerian cities and two countries within the next five years. Partnerships with organisations promoting African entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment are also on the horizon.
“We’re committed to boosting the Nigerian coffee value chain.” -Tekenah commits.
Happy Coffee has created a lasting impact by reintroducing Nigerians to the art of coffee drinking and promoting African-grown coffee. It has proven that indigenous businesses can drive economic growth. Its legacy extends beyond coffee, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and fostering social responsibility.
