(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago-based food company that specializes in West African cuisine has seen explosive growth.
Two years ago, AYO Foods launched in the freezer aisles of about 50 Whole Foods stores. Now, AYO can be found at more than 4,000 retail locations across the country, and the company’s offerings have expanded.
“Honestly, building a business in the midst of a pandemic is a little bit like building an airplane while it’s flying,” Perteet Spencer, co-founder, told the WBBM Noon Business Hour on Friday.
And yet AYO was able to scale up, she said, thanks to the right partners but also because of consumer demand for quality nutritional meals.
“We sell foods that celebrate the West African diaspora,” she said. “So, for us, it’s about bringing that delicious flavor to more people all over the country, but in a really simple way. You’re able to enjoy hand-crafted West African dishes in under five minutes.”
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