Kamereo Secures $4.6M Funding to Revolutionize Vietnam's Food Supply Chain

Kamereo Secures $4.6 Million to Optimize F&B Supply Chains in Vietnam

Taku Tanaka, formerly the chief operating officer of a pizza chain operating within Vietnam, identified a significant challenge faced by restaurants: difficulty in establishing direct connections with agricultural producers.

Numerous small food and beverage (F&B) enterprises are unable to make bulk purchases.

Consequently, they depend on local markets or a variety of suppliers, each specializing in a single product category.

The Disconnect Between Farmers and Consumers

This reliance creates a disconnect for farmers from the ultimate consumers of their produce.

Predicting appropriate selling prices and effectively planning crop cultivation becomes problematic due to this lack of direct market insight.

To address these issues, Tanaka established Kamereo, a B2B platform featuring its own warehousing facilities and a dedicated last-mile delivery network.

Funding and Expansion Plans

Headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, the company recently announced a $4.6 million funding round.

This round was co-led by CPF Group, a prominent food conglomerate, alongside Quest Ventures and Genesia Ventures.

The newly acquired capital will be allocated to several key areas, including personnel recruitment, the development of a new warehouse management system, user interface enhancements, and expansion into Hanoi in the coming year.

Tanaka’s Background and Kamereo’s Origins

Prior to founding Kamereo in 2018, Tanaka served as the COO of Pizza 4Ps.

During his tenure, Pizza 4Ps experienced substantial growth, expanding from a single location in Ho Chi Minh City to ten stores within three years (the chain now boasts over 30 locations across Vietnam).

Current Operations and Growth

Kamereo currently collaborates with approximately 15 farmers, including agricultural cooperatives.

The platform serves over 400 active customers, encompassing businesses ranging from family-run restaurants to larger chains with more than 20 locations.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 related restrictions and temporary business closures, Kamereo reports a consistent monthly growth rate of 15% over the past 12 months.

The company currently employs around 100 individuals.

Platform Functionality and Logistics

F&B businesses utilize the platform to place orders from a diverse network of farmers.

Kamereo manages all aspects of the supply chain, including supplier negotiations, order processing, fulfillment, and logistical coordination.

Tanaka explained to TechCrunch that operating its own warehouses and last-mile delivery network proves more cost-effective than outsourcing to third-party providers.

One of Kamereo’s warehouses for fresh farm products

Addressing Delivery Challenges in Vietnam

The majority of Kamereo’s last-mile deliveries are executed via motorbikes.

This is due to Vietnam’s extensive network of narrow roads that are often inaccessible to larger delivery vehicles.

A limitation of this approach is the restricted volume of goods that can be transported per trip.

To mitigate this, Kamereo intends to expand its micro-warehouse network within Ho Chi Minh City, reducing travel distances for drivers.

Furthermore, the company’s technology team is developing an internal system to optimize inventory management, fulfillment processes, and last-mile deliveries, with the aim of minimizing operational costs.

Investment Perspective

Goh Yiping, a partner at Quest Ventures, stated in a press release, “Kamereo is strategically positioned within one of Southeast Asia’s largest food production regions.

Significant opportunities exist to address the inefficiencies prevalent in today’s supply chains.

This will ultimately improve the livelihoods of farmers and ensure businesses and consumers have access to the highest quality products.”