Reflecting on 2025 and Building Intentionally for 2026

A New Year Message from the CEO of AYT Foods

As we step into a new year, it feels important to pause, not just to celebrate milestones, but to reflect meaningfully on the journey so far.

For AYT Foods, 2025 was a defining year.

It was a year of visibility, validation, and responsibility. A year that confirmed that the work we have been doing quietly, consistently, and with purpose is being seen, locally, nationally, and across the wider UK business landscape.

AYT Foods started with a simple vision: to make African and Caribbean food accessible, familiar, and proudly represented. In 2025, that vision translated into impact, recognition, and influence beyond what we imagined.

2025: A Year of Recognition and Credibility

In 2025, AYT Foods was honoured across several respected platforms, affirming our place as one of the UK’s most impactful emerging food retail brands.

Our recognitions in 2025 included:

• UK StartUp Awards – National Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year (Winner)

• UK StartUp Awards – Regional Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year, Scotland (Winner)

• Prestige Awards – African Grocery Store of the Year (Winner)

• SmallBiz100 – One of the 100 Most Inspiring Small Businesses in the UK

• Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Retail Entrepreneur of the Year, Scotland (Finalist)

• Small Business Awards – Retail Small Business of the Year (Finalist)

• Fife Business Awards – Young Business Award (Finalist)

• Association of Scottish Businesswomen Awards – Multiple Finalist Recognitions and Highly Commended

These awards were never pursued for applause alone. They represent validation, that a culturally rooted business can compete, thrive, and lead on national platforms without compromising its identity.

The Afro-Caribbean Summer Festival: A Defining Moment

One of the most defining moments of 2025 was the launch of the Afro-Caribbean Summer Festival in July, the first festival of its kind in Scotland.

What began as a bold idea became a powerful reality.

The festival welcomed over 6,000 attendees from across the UK, bringing together food, music, culture, art, and community in one vibrant space. It was more than an event, it was a statement.

A statement that our cultures are not niche.
They are visible.
They are celebrated.
They are here to stay.

For AYT Foods, the festival represented something bigger than retail. It reflected our deeper mission, to create spaces where culture is honored, community is centered, and people feel a true sense of belonging.

Beyond Awards: Growth with Purpose

While recognition mattered, 2025 was about much more than awards.

AYT Foods served thousands of customers across Scotland, strengthening trust and loyalty within our community. Our store continued to be a place of connection, where food carries memory, identity, and belonging.

Through TMAS Community CIC and the AYT Food Bank, we continued to support families, promote food security, and champion inclusion. Because for us, growth must always be meaningful.

AYT Foods did not just grow in numbers — it grew in responsibility.

What 2025 Taught Us

2025 taught us patience.
It taught us resilience.
It taught us the importance of building solid foundations.

Not every season is about acceleration. Some seasons are about alignment — strengthening systems, refining partnerships, and preparing quietly for scale.

Most importantly, 2025 reaffirmed that AYT Foods is no longer just a start-up story.
It is becoming a legacy brand.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in 2026

As we enter 2026, we do so with clarity, confidence, and intention.

The year ahead will focus on intentional growth, improving customer experience, strengthening operations, and expanding our impact responsibly.

We are also preparing for the next evolution of the AYT brand, including the growth of our cultural platforms and the introduction of a new dining concept, bringing our flavours and hospitality into a new space.

Our priorities for 2026 are clear:

• Intentional expansion, not rushed growth

• Excellence in service and delivery

• Deeper community and cultural engagement

• Stronger partnerships and collaborations

A Message of Gratitude

To our customers, thank you for trusting us.
To our partners, thank you for believing in the vision.
To our community, thank you for standing with us, consistently and loyally.

AYT Foods exists because of you. Leading this brand is both an honor and a responsibility, and we remain committed to stewarding it with integrity, humility, and excellence. Stepping Forward Together

The new year is more than a calendar change, it is an invitation.

An invitation to grow with intention.
To build with purpose.
To lead with courage.

Here’s to 2026  and everything we will build together.

Temitope Ajayi-Salami (TMAS)
Founder & CEO, AYT Foods Ltd