As a business student at Rowan University, I had the opportunity to create my own startup company called Konay Spice Shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/KonaySpiceShop). It all started because I was homesick. I was missing my mother’s traditional Ivorian meals, and I could not afford to travel all the way to Philadelphia to get my hands on some authentic African food. Like every other broke college student, I got tired of relying on the classic packs of ramen noodles, and decided to jazz them up with my own homemade spice blends. As my passion for food and spices grew, I realized how much good health and eating-well intertwined. Incorporating nutrient-dense ingredients such as ginger, turmeric and fresh herbs in my diet provided me with the right vitamins and minerals, which made a huge difference in my college performance, and ultimately made my simplest dishes taste incredible. I grew more confident in my cooking, and enjoyed sharing my passion for great flavors with my college friends, who then encouraged me to share my culinary gifts with the world.

Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Konay Spice Shop combines a rich heritage of artisanal spice-making with a sharpened focus on innovation, health, convenience, and authenticity. Our spice atelier crafts quality flavors with simplicity and love. When I started Konay, I wanted to create a business that has a purpose. So my team and I went with a “Humanitarian Business” model, where a percentage of our sales is used towards our #FOOD4LOVE program, which provides nutritious home-cooked meals to the homeless people in our local community.

We decided to embark on the journey with Villages Marketplace because we saw that it has the potential to be more than just a grocery store or restaurant. It has the opportunity to become a community center that will guarantee the right to nutritious foods, and promote social solidarity and people’s empowerment, which aligns with our mission to fight world hunger, one spice at a time.

By: Malicka Barro