Team Soup-a-Stars: Week3 — Chicago-based West African Food Company
We packed our bags and headed to Chicago, all hyped up from the awesome time we had celebrating Sanya’s birthday and reaffirming our friendship. It’s already been three weeks since then! Time seriously flies, but we made a pact to make the most of every single moment during our travel in Chicago with our members.
Remember that fable “Town Mouse, Country Mouse” we read as kids? Well, we couldn’t help but jest that the country mouse from Ann Arbor, Michigan had ventured into the metropolis and found themselves captivated by the stylish pedestrians on the streets and the awe-inspiring skyscrapers. It’s quite a contrast to the quieter, more laid-back life we were accustomed to back home.
This week we will work with Perteet Spencer from Ayo West African Foods, the Chicago-based producer and marketer of West African frozen food products and hot sauces. “Ayo” means “Joy” in West Africa, so we were hoping for an incredibly joyful time with our crew. We’re so inspired by Perteet and Fred, the founders of Ayo Foods, who launched their brand during the pandemic and now have their products in over 5,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Kroger, and Target. Ayo Foods is all about bold flavors and healthy, protein-rich meals — truly pioneers of West African cuisine.
Now, let’s talk about a hilarious incident that occurred while we were strolling along the Chicago River Walk toward Pier Navy. Juho’s phone accidentally slipped into the gap of a wooden bench! To make matters worse, the sides were blocked with stainless steel, making it impossible to retrieve the phone. But hey, our MBA problem-solving skills kicked into high gear. We brainstormed ideas like cutting the wooden panel with a saw or using wooden sticks to retrieve the phone. Unfortunately, none of them worked! Thankfully, a security guard came to the rescue. They contacted the city hall engineers, who dismantled the bench and successfully retrieved the phone. Lesson learned: Be careful when sitting on a wooden bench with a smartphone!
As part of our field research, we visited Target to investigate where Ayo Foods’ products were placed on the shelves and who their competitors were in that aisle. After our Target adventure, we treated ourselves to a delicious dinner featuring Ayo’s products and engaged in a lively conversation about West African cuisine. Vivek, who had the opportunity to visit Ghana during his MAP project, had some knowledge to share. It was a wonderful chance for us to learn about a new culture and cuisine we hadn’t been exposed to before.
On our last day in Chicago, we had the pleasure of having lunch with Perteet and Fred. We had an inspiring conversation about how they founded their brand amidst the pandemic. It really got us thinking about our own future after graduation. One of the most valuable aspects of the Open Road experience is having the opportunity to envision our ideal future and discuss it with our amazing crew. We presented our final ideas to Perteet and Fred, and they were thrilled to hear that some of our suggestions had already been discussed with investors. Our time in Chicago has brought us so much joy and many memorable experiences, but now it’s time to head back to Ann Arbor, taking these cherished moments with us.
