Rising Stars: Meet Abena Antwi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abena Antwi.

Hi Abena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Ghana West Africa, came to the US to join my parents in 1992. I am the oldest of three girls. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot but my parents stressed the importance of education. They made sure we attended the best schools in Ghana. My father came to this country with no money but worked hard to put himself through school and became a nurse and a teacher. I was always interested in science and cooking. I started cooking at a very young age.

My mother is 11th of 12 children so we come from a big family and food sharing was important since we didn’t have a lot of money. I majored in chemistry undergraduate and went ahead for my master’s in cosmetics chemistry. I love creating and coming up with different products and creating recipes for people to enjoy. During Quarantine , I grew my own vegetables and herbs and enjoyed cooking with fresh ingredients. Jollof Rice has always been a staple dish growing up. It is eaten on birthdays and holidays. My Grandmother’s was the best, I learned cooking from her and my mother at very young age.

Over the years I have shared recipes with people and but they always come back and say it didn’t taste like mine. The process of making yummy Jollof is long. On January 18th, 2021, I decided to make the sauce and gave it to my sisters to use it to make Jollof rice, if it will cut the cooking short. My sisters tried and told me “you need to sell this thing” I went to the dollar store and purchased jars and labels. Made the sauce and label and posted it on Facebook. The responses were overwhelming. We mailed over 100 jars in the first week. I posted it on my neighborhood Facebook to sell. Someone reached out and asked if I can sell in the local farmer. Signed up for Apex farmers market and reached out to Elk Local Foods with a sample to try to see if she like it and want to carry it. She loved it and is carrying our sauce there.

We are now in Holly Springs Farmer’s market, Bulldega in Durham , and looking to go to Coop Market in Durham.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It is not easy running a business especially as a single parent with two kids 15 and 7 years old and a full-time employee for a company I love.

Getting suppliers to make my sauce, as a small company you don’t have the buying power to purchase volumes . I have asked people to get jars from different stores in other to have inventory. I want to expand to different farmer markets but it is just me. I am lucky enough to have an amazing friends and family that are willing to help.

Finding Commerical kitchen that is not going to eat into your profit. They are very expensive for small startup business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear many hats, I am a chemist, real estate investor, cook, business owner. I love creating different dishes, I have traveled around and eaten different food. Creating dishes with my sauces is a passion and labor of love . I am called Queen Bee, because I love people around and enjoy cooking and feeding people My sauces allow you to create amazing quick dishes in no time.

What set me apart from others is my willingness to teach people how to use my sauces by creating video and live events on our Instagram and Facebook platforms.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am known as the connector, I love bringing people together and learning from each other. I am willing to collaborate with anyone to help support each other’s business. If you know of any co packer for scale ups or where I can purchases suppliers in volumes at cost effective.

Pricing:

• Jollof sauces are mild and spicy. $12.00
• Honey Jerk Sauce $10
• Shito Ghanaian hot sauce $10

Contact Info:

• Apex Farmer
• Holly Springs Farmers
• Cocodrip
• Email: Queenjollofsauce@gmail.com
• Website: http://www.queensjollofsauce.com/
• Instagram: @QueensJollofsauce
• Facebook: QueensJollofsauce

Contact Info:

• Email: Queenjollofsauce@gmail.com
• Website: http://www.queensjollofsauce.com/
• Instagram: @QueensJollofsauce
• Facebook: QueensJollofsauce

Image Credits
Jenny Medley Photograph