Legendary Foods, a Ghana-based company pioneering insect protein, has secured new investment from Toniic members alongside a broad group of impact-focused investors. The company, led by founder and CEO Shobhita Soor, is scaling palm larva farming to address Africa’s nutritional and food system challenges. With this capital, Legendary Foods aims to expand beyond Ghana into new regional markets.
Tackling Africa’s Nutrition Gaps
Across Africa, millions face a dual crisis of hunger and malnutrition, with diets often lacking sufficient protein and essential micronutrients. Dependence on imported foods leaves families vulnerable to price shocks, currency volatility, and fragile supply chains. Legendary Foods positions itself as a local solution, providing affordable, culturally familiar, and nutrient-dense alternatives.
Palm Larva as a Complete Nutrition Source
The company farms palm larva, known locally as akokono in Ghana, a traditional food now scaled through biotechnology. Palm larva offers complete protein along with iron, zinc, B-vitamins, and healthy fats, making it a powerful dietary supplement. By turning agricultural by-products into safe, consistent, and sustainable nutrition, Legendary Foods is creating both health and climate impact.
Impact Across Multiple Channels
Legendary Foods integrates its products into consumer foods such as fortified cookies and condiments while also supplying B2B ingredients like protein powders, oils, and pastes. This reduces reliance on imports and strengthens local food manufacturing. The company also supports humanitarian nutrition programs, providing shelf-stable products suitable for emergency response and long-term feeding initiatives.
Demonstrated Results to Date
The company has already created more than 60 jobs, with women holding over half of these roles—an uncommon achievement in African agri-processing. Each month, it upcycles more than 100 metric tons of agri-waste, much of which is recycled into organic fertilizer for smallholder farmers. Its operations have helped avoid over 700 tons of CO₂ annually, showing the model’s climate benefits alongside its nutritional impact.
Scaling Beyond Ghana
Currently operating the largest palm larva farm in Africa, Legendary Foods distributes products nationwide across Ghana. The company is preparing to expand into the Republic of Congo through a joint venture pilot, tapping into a local market where palm larva can retail for more than $30 per kilogram depending on the season. With a team of 60 staff, it is positioning itself for regional leadership in alternative proteins.
Investor Confidence
The funding round included Alliance Management, Baylis Emerging Markets, Climate Resilience Africa Fund, ABAN, MotherFood International, Dakar Network Angels, DeveloPPP Ventures, and several Toniic members. Notably, Katapult, Africa Health Ventures, and Investress participated, with Toniic highlighting the company’s mission-driven approach and scalable impact. Investors praised CEO Shobhita Soor’s track record, resilience, and ability to navigate the complexities of scaling an agri-tech venture in Africa.
Toniic Members’ Perspectives
Tharald Nustad, founder of Katapult, underscored the alignment between Legendary Foods and Katapult’s thesis on sustainable protein consumption. Angel investor Rowena Luk of Africa Health Ventures emphasized the product’s potential to address food security, child nutrition, and sustainable protein adoption across Africa. Toniic member Cornelia Tremann also invested, citing Soor’s strong leadership, experience, and capacity to build resilient networks in challenging markets.
Legendary Foods represents a new model for food and nutrition security, rooted in African traditions and enabled by innovation. By scaling palm larva production, the company is bridging the continent’s protein gap, strengthening local manufacturing, and contributing to climate resilience. Backed by Toniic members and other global investors, Legendary Foods is poised to expand its reach and reinforce Africa’s role in shaping the future of sustainable food systems.