Kate Fotso, widely regarded as Cameroon’s richest woman, is making a bold strategic shift from her long-dominant cocoa business into the beverage industry with a $28.3 million brewery investment. The project, announced in April 2026, will be located in Souza in the Littoral region and ranks among the country’s most significant recent private industrial investments, as reported by Business Insider Africa.
The move marks a major diversification for Fotso, whose company, Telcar Cocoa, has been a cornerstone of Cameroon’s cocoa export sector for over two decades. At its peak, Telcar controlled roughly 30 to 35 percent of the country’s cocoa exports, positioning Fotso as a central figure in global cocoa supply chains.
Industry observers say the brewery investment reflects both opportunity and necessity, as shifts in the cocoa market and rising competition have reduced Telcar’s market share in recent years. By entering the beverage space, Fotso is targeting a fast-growing consumer market traditionally dominated by multinational players, while leveraging Cameroon’s expanding urban demand and distribution networks.
The expansion underscores a broader trend among Africa’s agribusiness leaders moving into manufacturing and consumer goods to capture more value locally. Fotso’s transition from cocoa exports to industrial production signals a strategic repositioning, highlighting how leading African entrepreneurs are evolving into multi-sector players to sustain growth and strengthen economic impact.
Image Credit: cemac-eco.finance
