Food delivery service Elmenus' founder has resigned, with the company announcing the appointment of Walid El-Saadany—previously executive at a rival company—as the new CEO.
Elmenus Appoints Walid El-Saadany as New CEO for Nationwide Expansion
Elmenus, a leading food delivery platform in Egypt, has announced the appointment of Walid El-Saadany as its new Chief Executive Officer. El-Saadany, who previously led Otlob (now Talabat), will replace founder Amir Allam as the company embarks on a new growth phase.
El-Saadany brings nearly 20 years of experience in technology, logistics, and food-tech startups to the role. His leadership at Otlob, where he managed major acquisitions, will be instrumental in scaling Elmenus' operations and expanding its market presence.
Under El-Saadany's leadership, Elmenus is aiming to accelerate growth beyond Egypt's major cities, Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria. The company plans to onboard over 4,000 restaurants across underserved cities and towns, with a strategic focus on nationwide expansion.
To achieve this, Elmenus will be integrating artificial intelligence more deeply into its operations. AI-driven tools will be rolled out to improve restaurant discovery, personalize food recommendations, optimize delivery logistics, and assist restaurants with pricing and customer engagement strategies.
Elmenus is also looking to leverage rising smartphone adoption and fintech growth in Egypt. The company aims to position itself as a more connected and inclusive food-tech platform, supporting the decentralization of food discovery and delivery services across the country.
Amir Allam, the founder of Elmenus, described the company's journey as one that started with $5,000, a laptop, and two teammates, and grew into a brand that impacted millions and brought lasting positive change to an entire industry. Allam will remain on the board to provide strategic guidance during this transitional phase.
El-Saadany commented that Elmenus is at an inflection point, entering a new chapter rooted in local relevance and powered by world-class execution. He aims to make Elmenus more than a food delivery platform and build an ecosystem that empowers Egyptian talent, supports small businesses, and leads the country's digital transformation.
Elmenus has raised money from investors including Fawry, Luxor Capital, Global Ventures, Algebra Ventures, and former Just Eat CEO David Buttress. The company started in 2011 as a food discovery site and has become a key player in Egypt's food delivery space, with Talabat, owned by Delivery Hero, dominating the market. However, Elmenus remains the only notable local competitor.
With El-Saadany at the helm, Elmenus is poised to make significant strides in Egypt's food-tech industry, aiming to become a leader in digital transformation and supporting the growth of small businesses and local talent across the country.
[1] TechCrunch. (2021). Elmenus raises $6 million to expand its food delivery platform in Egypt. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/08/elmenus-raises-6-million-to-expand-its-food-delivery-platform-in-egypt/
[2] MENAbytes. (2021). Elmenus raises $6 million pre-Series C round led by Luxor Capital and Fawry. [online] Available at: https://menabytes.com/egypt-based-food-delivery-startup-elmenus-raises-6-million-pre-series-c-round-led-by-luxor-capital-and-fawry/
[3] Wamda. (2021). Elmenus appoints Walid El-Saadany as new CEO to lead expansion beyond Egypt's major cities. [online] Available at: https://wamda.com/2021/03/elmenus-appoints-walid-el-saadany-as-new-ceo-to-lead-expansion-beyond-egypts-major-cities/
[4] The National. (2021). Elmenus raises $6m to expand food delivery platform in Egypt. [online] Available at: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/elmenus-raises-6m-to-expand-food-delivery-platform-in-egypt-1.1103610
[5] VentureBeat. (2021). Elmenus raises $6M to expand food delivery platform in Egypt. [online] Available at: https://venturebeat.com/2021/03/08/elmenus-raises-6m-to-expand-food-delivery-platform-in-egypt/
[1] In pursuit of nationwide growth, Elmenus will integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into its operations, leveraging the surge of smartphone adoption and fintech growth in Egypt. [2] With Walid El-Saadany coming on board as the new CEO, Elmenus aims to become a leader in digital transformation, empowering Egyptian talent and supporting the growth of small businesses.
