Hi there! Do you want to hear an amazing story of how a young woman turned her passion for cooking into a successful business that celebrates African cuisine and culture? Then you're in for a treat, because today we're going to explore the incredible journey of My Sasun African Market, the best African market in the US and Canada! A place where you can find the best, authentic, freshest, affordable African groceries, fresh ingredients and everything African home away from home!
Let me introduce you to Lara Ajetunmobi, the founder and CEO of My Sasun African Market, a name that has become synonymous with quality and taste. Lara is not just a businesswoman, she's also a storyteller, a chef, and a cultural ambassador. She has a vision to share the flavors and traditions of her homeland, Nigeria, and her continent, Africa, with the world.
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Lara's story begins in Lagos, the vibrant and cosmopolitan city where she grew up. Lagos is a place where food is more than just nourishment, it's a way of life. Lara learned to cook from her mother, who taught her the secrets of Nigerian cuisine, from the spicy jollof rice to the savory egusi soup.
But Lara's life took a different turn when she lost her father. It was a sad and obviously an unfortunate incident but thank goodness, God works in mysterious ways to make lemonade out of our ‘lemon’ lives. In 2008, she, her now single mom and her siblings had to travel down to the United States to pursue a better life. She faced many challenges as a new immigrant, such as adapting to a different culture, finding her place in a new environment, and missing her family and friends. But she also found opportunities to grow, learn, and pursue her dreams. In actual fact, this was where her dream started to become a reality.
Lara's story begins in Lagos, the vibrant and cosmopolitan city where she grew up. Lagos is a place where food is more than just nourishment, it's a way of life. Lara learned to cook from her mother, who taught her the secrets of Nigerian cuisine, from the spicy jollof rice to the savory egusi soup.
But Lara's life took a different turn when she lost her father. It was a sad and obviously an unfortunate incident but thank goodness, God works in mysterious ways to make lemonade out of our ‘lemon’ lives. In 2008, she, her now single mom and her siblings had to travel down to the United States to pursue a better life. She faced many challenges as a new immigrant, such as adapting to a different culture, finding her place in a new environment, and missing her family and friends. But she also found opportunities to grow, learn, and pursue her dreams. In actual fact, this was where her dream started to become a reality.
While her mother worked for the family, Lara ‘mothered’ the house. She was saddled with the responsibility of making meals for her siblings, as the first child of the family and she did it so well. She did it so well that when she went to college, she continued to mother her dorm friends (haha). She started by inviting her college friends to her dorm room, where she would prepare mouthwatering meals for them. Her friends were amazed by her culinary skills and her generosity, and soon after yielding to some good advice, she turned this to a business. These friends would thereafter become her regular customers.
But Lara wanted to do more than just cook for her friends. She wanted to bring the authentic African goods that she missed so much to her campus. She started by going to the Southwest Farmers Market every morning, where she would buy fresh produce, spices and some other wonderful African goods that her fellow students craved for. Then she would set up a small stand after church service, where she would sell her goods to other students and churchgoers.
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Lara's business quickly gained popularity, as more and more people discovered the quality and variety of her products. She realized that there was a huge demand for African goods in the US, and that she had a unique opportunity to fill that gap. She decided to take her business to the next level, and moved from her dorm room to an apartment that she converted into a store.
Lara faced many obstacles along the way, such as getting the proper licenses, finding reliable suppliers, and managing her finances. She also had to balance her studies, her work, and her personal life. There were times when she felt overwhelmed and exhausted, and wondered if it was all worth it. But she never gave up on her dream, and she always found the strength to overcome the challenges.
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And her hard work paid off when after a lot of failures, she got the business name registered in 2018 and before you know it, Lara opened her first official store in Celina, Texas, where she and her team do local deliveries and also ship all across the United States. And that was it! The rebirth of Isasun (The Cooking earthware) to My Sasun (The refined Cooking Pot 😄😀) Well, My Sasun has long transitioned from selling cooked foods to selling African groceries, fresh produces, frozen foods, Sauces, spices etc.
But Lara didn't stop there though. She had a bigger vision, to expand her business across the country and reach more people who wanted to experience the flavors of Africa. She achieved that vision on February 3rd, 2024, when she launched a new warehouse in Houston, Texas. Yaaaaayy! 🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊 This was a huge milestone for Lara and her company, as it allowed her to distribute her goods to more stores and customers nationwide.
So, what can we learn from Lara's story? Well, we can learn that passion is a powerful force; that perseverance is a key to success, and that culture is a gift to be shared. We can also learn that dreams can come true, if we are willing to work hard and pursue them.
Here's to My Sasun – a taste of Africa, a source of inspiration, and a proof of the amazing things that passion can do. Cheers to the journey and may the flavors from My Sasun keep satisfying our palates and enriching our lives for many years to come.
Courtesy: My Sasun African Market Offshore Team.