Four AYO Foods brand offerings of authentic West African-inspired cuisine have been listed at Kroger supermarkets and the chain’s other grocery stores across the United States. Among the frozen ready meals and side dishes now stocked are Jollof Rice and Puff Puff, as well as Chicken Yassa and Waakye, which were recently launched in partnership with Bravo TV Top Chef Eric Adjepong (pictured above).
Descriptions of the SKUs, which are priced at $5.99 per 8 oz (227 grams) pack, follow:
• Chicken Yassa – Marinated chicken thighs, caramelized onions, lemon and dijon, served over jasmine rice
• Waakye – Anson Mills red peas and jasmine rice slow cooked with sorghum leaves and served with a delicious red sauce.
• Jollof Rice – One pot rice, spiced and stewed in an aromatic base of tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
• Puff Puff – Subtly sweet, yeast-based dough, lightly fried to be enjoyed as a sweet or savory side.
Chef Adjepong draws from his Ghanian heritage to create memorable dishes that are bold, creative and comforting. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, he sources the flavors and influences in his cooking from many of the West African dishes he grew up eating.
Ayo means “joy” in Yoruba, one of the many languages spoken in West Africa. And cooking West African food, and sharing its rich flavors with both those familiar with, and those new to the cuisine, brings me deep joy,” said Adjepong. “It’s exciting to share some of my favorite recipes and collaborate with a partner who deeply understands the transformative power of West African cuisine. I’m thrilled to be a part of the movement to make this food more prominent in mainstream grocery culture.”
AYO Foods listings at Kroger as well as at a growing number of regional grocery store outlets like Mom’s Organic, have led to an 80x increase in distribution for the produce line, allowing the company to meet rising demand for the flavors of West Africa in North America.
“It has been remarkable to see the growing acceptance and excitement for a platform that is so personal to us,” jointly stated Fred and Perteet Spencer, who co-founded Chicago, Illinois-based AYO Foods in 2019. “We’re excited to welcome consumers across the country in celebration of West African food culture, which is significantly underrepresented in the US food and grocery landscape.”
