Elmenus, the Cairo-based food delivery platform that has raised $30 million to date, has appointed former Walid El-Saadany as chief executive, replacing founder Amir Allam after 14 years at the helm.
The company founder described Elmenus’ 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.” He said it’s now the right time to “pass the baton” as the company enters its next phase.
The leadership change comes as the company looks to accelerate growth beyond Egypt’s major cities. Walid previously led Otlob (now known as Talabat), Elmenus’ main competitor, for five years, from 2015 to 2020. He joined the company in 2006 when it was part of Linkdotnet and led it through two major acquisitions: first by Foodpanda, and later by Delivery Hero.
Walid El-Saadany, commenting on the occasion, said, “Elmenus is at an inflection point. We’re entering a new chapter, one rooted in local relevance and powered by world-class execution. We aim to become more than a food delivery platform; we are building an ecosystem that empowers Egyptian talent, supports small businesses, and leads the country’s digital transformation.”
Elmenus started in 2011 as a food discovery site and has since become a key player in Egypt’s food delivery space. While Talabat, owned by Delivery Hero, dominates the market, Elmenus is the only notable local competitor; though it operates at a much smaller scale. According to its statement, it currently has 1,000 restaurant partners. The platform has raised money from investors including Fawry, Luxor Capital, Global Ventures, Algebra Ventures, and former Just Eat CEO David Buttress.
Under the new leadership, Elmenus plans to scale beyond Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria by onboarding over 4,000 restaurants across underserved cities and towns. It currently has 1,000 restaurant partners.
It also said it is enhancing its app with AI-driven features including smarter discovery, faster delivery, and real-time tracking to create a more personalized user experience.
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