Martin Kakabi Has Launched Café Nairobi in Jacksonville

Entrepreneur Martin Kakabi expanded his Kenyan coffee business into Fresh Market stores across the region.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Coffee

Bold vector illustration of a burlap sack of coffee beans and a steaming cup of coffee. — Entrepreneur Martin Kakabi has expanded his Kenyan-sourced coffee brand, Café Nairobi, into regional Fresh Market stores across Jacksonville. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Entrepreneur Martin Kakabi has introduced his coffee brand, Café Nairobi, to Fresh Market stores. The business sources beans directly from growers in Kiambu, Kenya, for distribution in the Jacksonville area.

Why it matters

The venture aims to meet the growing consumer demand for authentic Kenyan coffee in the United States. Kakabi shifted focus to this brand following the closure of his previous venture, Grower's Alliance, earlier this year.

Café Nairobi products are available in Fresh Market stores and come in light, medium, and dark roasts. The company utilizes 60-pound and 300-pound roasters at its Downtown Jacksonville facility to process beans sourced from Kiambu, Kenya.

The players

Martin Kakabi

He is an entrepreneur who previously founded Grower's Alliance and now operates the coffee business Café Nairobi.

Fresh Market

This is a specialty grocery chain that has begun stocking products from the Jacksonville-based roaster.

Gannon Barrett

He is a coffee consumer who transitioned to drinking Kenyan coffee varieties in 2026.

The details

Martin Kakabi now operates his roasting business in Downtown Jacksonville after closing his previous shop on Anastasia Island. The brand currently reaches customers through farmers markets, including the St. Augustine Amphitheater, and online platforms.

Martin Kakabi began his career selling coffee from a truck in 2006.
A brick-and-mortar shop operated on Anastasia Island from 2017 to 2024.
Martin Kakabi shut down his former business, Grower's Alliance, in 2024.
A customer named Gannon Barrett switched to Kenyan coffee in April 2026.
Café Nairobi products were stocked in Fresh Market stores in October 2026.

Culture Shift

The expansion reflects a broader movement toward direct-trade sourcing, which prioritizes transparency and regional authenticity over mass-market blends. This shift allows independent roasters to compete by highlighting the specific terroir of crops like those from Kiambu, Kenya.

Residents can now purchase Kenyan-sourced roasts during their regular grocery shopping at Fresh Market locations. Customers who previously visited the Anastasia Island shop will find the products more accessible through these new retail partnerships.

The takeaway

Authentic, origin-focused coffee brands are increasingly moving into mainstream grocery spaces to reach wider audiences. Enthusiasts can support this trend by choosing roasters that maintain direct relationships with international growers.