In the heart of Nigeria, Osato Omo-Osemwingie is rewriting the story of kilishi—a beloved West African delicacy often likened to beef jerky—through El Gazelle Foods. This brand is reimagining tradition with innovation, hygiene, and global ambition.
As Founder and CEO of El Gazelle Foods, Omo-Osemwingie transforms how kilishi is produced, packaged, and consumed. Her company delivers premium, hygienically processed versions of the age-old snack—crafted from beef, goat, and chicken—designed to meet both domestic and international standards. With sleek packaging, clear branding, and strict quality controls, El Gazelle Foods is helping take kilishi from roadside stalls to global store shelves.
How it started Osato
The spark for El Gazelle Foods came from a personal incident: someone close to Osato fell ill after consuming contaminated roadside kilishi. At the time, she was preparing kilishi for family and friends as a passion project—a way to enjoy a favorite snack that reminded her of home. But growing demand and enthusiastic feedback revealed something more: a gap in the market and an opportunity to turn a cherished cultural staple into a scalable, export-ready product.
In 2018, she officially launched El Gazelle Foods with a clear mission: to offer safer, high-quality kilishi that celebrates Nigerian heritage while prioritising hygiene, traceability, and consumer safety.
Modernising a traditional product
El Gazelle is a NAFDAC-approved company and a pioneer in Nigeria’s evolving agrifood sector. With varieties of kilishi made from beef, goat, and chicken, the brand has carved out a distinct identity based on ethical sourcing, sustainable production, and premium quality assurance.
The results speak for themselves: El Gazelle Foods now operates across over 100 retail outlets in Nigeria and has expanded into five international markets—a testament to the global appeal of its products.
Business with a purpose
But Omo-Osemwingie’s vision extends beyond just snacks. El Gazelle Foods is built on community and impact. The company sources its meat from local farmers, creating a reliable market for their produce. It also partners with a network of women trained in food handling and packaging, providing meaningful employment while promoting economic inclusion.
This balance of business and purpose earned El Gazelle recognition in 2023, when it was selected as one of 70 Nigerian businesses to receive the MSME Platinum Jubilee Grant from FATE Foundation—a ₦70 million (about $43,000) initiative celebrating the foundation’s 70th anniversary and empowering alumni-led enterprises to scale and thrive.
Looking ahead
Osato’s next frontier is building a fully automated, solar-powered kilishi processing plant in Nigeria—designed to meet rising local demand and growing interest from the African diaspora. The facility will enable increased production capacity, operational efficiency, and wider distribution.
Through grit, vision, and a deep respect for culture, Osato Omo-Osemwingie is showing how traditional African food can be both a source of pride and a platform for innovation. El Gazelle Foods is not just selling kilishi—it’s building a global movement grounded in heritage, health, and high standards.
