Seeing more West African foods in grocery stores? Thank co-founders of AYO Foods for the shift

CHICAGO -- The frozen meals that AYO Foods creates and markets sit next to P.F. Chang’s food in Target’s freezer section.

But AYO Foods founders, Perteet and Fred Spencer, would prefer their fare be next to Amy’s Kitchen, the organic packaged and prepared foods giant.

“If you look at our caloric intake, our protein content, our fiber content, it’s very comfortable, if not better than some of the other kind of ‘better for you’ frozen items out there,” Perteet Spencer said. “And I can guarantee you it’s going to be much more flavorful.”

The Spencers launched AYO Foods, an array of West African frozen meals and hot sauces, in July 2020. In two years, they’ve expanded into stores nationwide, including Chicagoland Mariano’s, Heinen’s and The Fresh Market stores.

Frozen options range from jollof rice to cassava leaf stew, egusi