As inflation surges, fuel prices soar and heatwaves become more frequent across Africa, a clean energy company, Koolboks, has started a quiet revolution that would reshape the way small businesses and households access refrigeration. Koolboks is offering affordable, sustainable cooling solutions aimed at solving one of the continent’s most critical challenges, cold storage.
According to recent studies, over 40 percent of food produced in sub-Saharan Africa is lost due to poor refrigeration, while access to reliable cold storage lingers at a dismal 17 percent, compared to over 90 percent in developed nations. This gap in infrastructure not only leads to food spoilage and medical waste but also undermines efforts to strengthen food security and public health. Recognising this urgent need, Koolboks has launched an innovative retail platform, Koolbuy, providing cutting-edge, solar-powered cooling appliances tailored for Africa’s unique needs.
“With Koolbuy, we are transforming the sun into an income-generating partner for small businesses,” said Ayoola Dominic, CEO of Koolboks. “If a business cannot preserve its food, it runs into trouble. What we’ve done is provide the tools for resilience, technology that allows people to cool without relying on erratic power grids or expensive petrol.”
Through Koolbuy, customers can now access a wide range of solar-powered freezers, refrigerators and eco-friendly air conditioners. These aren’t just any appliances; Koolboks has partnered with global brands such as Thermocool, Samsung, Panasonic, Scanfrost, Bruhm and its own Koolboks line to offer durable, high-performance appliances embedded with smart Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) technology. This system allows users to pay as little as ₦1,500 daily, making the service not only effective but also inclusive.
In a region threatened by environmental degradation, Koolboks has positioned itself as a climate-conscious leader. “All appliances featured on Koolbuy use natural refrigerants, which have zero ozone depletion potential and an ultra-low global warming impact,” Dominic explained. “We do not sell toxic tech. This is clean cooling for a warming world.”
With the African middle class growing rapidly, the influx of outdated, second-hand cooling appliances from abroad presents a new risk, one Koolboks is proactively addressing. Through Scrap4New, a circular economy initiative, the company encourages consumers to trade in their old, polluting appliances for solar-ready, climate-smart models. It’s a sustainable, practical approach that tackles both e-waste and access to modern appliances.
Koolboks’ flexible financing plans are another game-changer. Customers can swap, convert or purchase appliances on daily, weekly or monthly terms, with initial deposits as low as 10 percent. “This isn’t just about comfort, it’s about survival,” Dominic emphasised. “Lack of refrigeration destroys medicine, accelerates food spoilage and fuels climate instability. We are changing that, one home and one business at a time.”
Deborah Gael, co-founder and COO of Koolboks, noted that the innovation was timely. “Business owners can now operate without spending a single Naira on petrol. This is real economic freedom for those who rely on cold storage to survive and thrive,” she said.