When I started AYT Foods, I didn’t set out thinking about awards. I simply wanted to solve a problem, to make African and Caribbean foods easily accessible to families like mine across Scotland. I wanted people to walk into a store and feel that warm, familiar connection to home, the smell of pepper soup ingredients, the sight of garri and plantain on the shelves, and that sense of belonging that food brings.
Fast forward, and here we are, crowned UK StartUp Awards National Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year 2025. Even writing that still feels surreal.
This award means so much more than recognition. It’s proof that a small dream born in Dunfermline could grow into something that captures national attention. It’s validation that cultural food businesses like ours matter, that our flavours, stories, and communities deserve to be seen and celebrated.
I think back to the early days — packing boxes, juggling kids, running deliveries, and keeping faith that one day, it would all make sense. That’s why this win isn’t just mine. It belongs to everyone who’s supported AYT Foods — our customers, community partners, suppliers, and every hand that believed in the dream.
We’re not just selling food; we’re building a legacy of culture, community, and connection. And this award? It’s just the beginning.
Here’s to more milestones, more love, and more flavour-filled memories.
Temitope Ajayi-Salami
Founder, AYT Foods
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AYT Foods, Scotland’s first African-Caribbean grocery store, celebrates a national milestone as it wins the UK StartUp Awards National Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year 2025 — a testament to culture, community, and resilience.
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AYT Foods, Scotland’s first African-Caribbean grocery store, wins the UK StartUp Awards National Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year 2025. A story of culture, resilience, and community impact led by founder Temitope Ajayi-Salami.
