Pasta consumption in Kenya soared by 99% in the last 12 months: Glovo report

KENYA – As World Pasta Day was commemorated on October 25, new data from Glovo, a courier service provider has revealed that consumption of pasta meals in Kenya has increased by 99 percent in the last 12 months.

According to the data, five units of pasta were delivered through the Glovo App every hour, as well as a 57.8 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in customers with pasta orders.

Pasta is especially preferred for dinner, with 32 percent of daily consumption happening between 5 and 7 p.m.

“Our platform has witnessed a substantial 72.3% increase in the number of partners offering pasta-related products compared to the previous year,” Glovo Kenya Interim General Manager Ivy Maingi said.

Maingi added that, notably, the segment experiencing the most remarkable growth is the SMEs, with an impressive 101% increase.

World Pasta Day was brought into existence as part of the World Pasta Congress on the 25th of October in 1995.

Experts from all over the world came together to discuss the glories of the noodle, with particular emphasis on the importance of spreading knowledge of the world’s panorama of pasta.

This organization uses World Pasta Day to promote the eating of pasta, along with its cultural and culinary importance.

“At Glovo, we are committed to supporting local businesses and restaurants, providing our customers convenient access to their favorite dishes, including the iconic pasta,” stated Maingi during the celebration.

According to Glovo, Kenyans are big fans of pasta, showcasing remarkable growth in its consumption trends, with five units of pasta delivered through the Glovo app every hour and a 57.8% YoY increase in customers with pasta orders.

The data showed that Kenya’s top five most-ordered pasta dishes are Chicken Alfredo, Traditional Lasagna, Fusilli Pesto, Spaghetti Bolognese, and Linguine Carbonara.

Globally, among the biggest ‘Pasta containing chicken’ & and ‘Pasta containing meat’ fan countries, Kenya ranks #2 for both.

The types of pasta with the most significant growth in the last year in Kenya are Fusilli with 236% growth, Tagliatelle with 173% growth, and Lasagna with 155% growth, which also ranks as the #4 globally with the most significant change.

With regard to regions, Nairobi leads in consumption at 87 percent, followed by Mombasa with five percent and Ngong, Rongai, and Karen with four percent.

Other towns that experienced huge uptakes are Syokimau with 928 percent, Kisumu (262 percent), and Thika (203 percent).