• Hazem Afify founded Sumet in 2021 to modernize FMCG supply chains for African retailers.
• Sumet targets local and informal markets that traditional distribution networks serve inefficiently.
• The platform enables rapid deliveries, sometimes within 24 hours in major urban areas.

Hazem Afify is an Egyptian-born entrepreneur based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He founded and currently leads Sumet as chief executive officer. The technology company redesigns fast-moving consumer goods supply chains for neighborhood retail stores.

Sumet launched operations in 2021. The company positions itself as a dedicated platform for fast-moving consumer goods. The platform aims to facilitate market entry and brand growth across Africa. The company focuses on local and often informal markets, where traditional distribution networks struggle to serve small retailers efficiently.

The platform allows merchants to order a wide range of branded products with a few clicks. The system provides fast delivery, sometimes within 24 hours in selected urban areas. This model reduces travel time, lowers logistics costs, and limits stock-out risks.

For brands and distributors, Sumet provides detailed visibility into product performance at individual retail outlets. The platform enables order tracking and merchandise flow monitoring. These features allow manufacturers to optimize delivery planning, adjust field presence, and better understand retailers’ operational needs.

Alongside Sumet, Hazem Afify co-founded and leads Global Business as chief executive officer. The export, import, and distribution company operates from Turkey. The company launched in 2015. It focuses primarily on fast-moving consumer goods and cosmetics. The company maintains branches in Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Hazem Afify graduated from Cairo University in Egypt. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic and communications engineering in 2007. He began his professional career in 2008 at Mentor Graphics. The electronic design automation company employed him as a technical marketing engineer and later as an integrated circuit design consultant until 2015.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum