Yolélé
Overview
Yolélé is a purpose-driven African food company that shares African foodways and ingredients like fonio with the world to create income opportunity through resilient agriculture. Fonio (pronounced phone-yo) is a gluten free and nutrient rich ancient grain that takes just five minutes to cook. Yolélé Fonio and soon Yolélé Fonio Pilaf mixes are available at Whole Foods, Amazon, Thrive Market, and many other local retailers. "Yolélé," a term of exuberance used throughout West and Central Africa, is the rough Fulani language equivalent of “Let the good times roll.” By sourcing from smallholder farms in West Africa, supporting regenerative, climate-smart agriculture, and introducing fonio to tables around world, we can truly help make the good times roll. Yolélé was founded by celebrated Chef Pierre Thiam and food industry veteran Philip Teverow. To learn more about our mission, watch Chef Pierre Thiam's TED Talk at TED.com. In addition to plain fonio, Yolélé is proud to offer fonio pilaf blends and a gluten-free fonio flour. The new fonio pilaf blends are inspired by the flavors of popular West African dishes. Available in six varieties – Jollof, Yassa!, Suya Spice, Dakar Curry, Afro-Funk, and Greens! – each carries the ample health properties of pure fonio, introduces craveable flavors to home-cooks, and boasts a speedy cook-time of five minutes. Yolele is building West African Ancient Grains, a factory in Mali to process fonio efficiently and at scale for global markets, in partnership with a local industrial agri-processor, supported by USAID and other global development finance organizations.
Fonio Pilaf
Fonio Chips
News Roundup: Great Foods Research And Advisory Platform Launches; Planterra Closes
In this week’s roundup: Ecommerce platform GTFO It’s Vegan launches new research and advisory platform; JBS shutters Planterra brand OZO; Daily Harvest supports Latino farmers with regenerative ag grant program; and Yolélé launches fonio beer.
Yolélé Debuts African Spice Rubs
Yolélé, the Revolutionary African Food company, introduces a line of four bold and vibrant spice rubs. Each spice rub is inspired by the seasonings of iconic West African dishes and flavor profiles.
Yolélé Secures Grant To Establish Ancient Grain Supply Chain Network
The network will source fonio, among other “underutilized orphan grains,” from over 30,000 smallholder farms throughout West Africa with the end goal of creating sustainable market demand beyond the brand’s own use of this “miracle grain.”
Distribution Roundup: Yolélé Brings Flavors of Africa To Target; African Dream Foods Announces Zoo Partnerships
In this week’s distribution roundup: Yolélé launches its West African inspired products at Target, African Dream Foods partners with zoos across the country, Blue Apron innovates with Amazon Alexa, Bubbies introduces its mochi to Publix and more.
Distribution Roundup: Know Brainer Launches in Walmart and CVS
In the latest distribution news, Know Brainer’s Max Mallows land in Walmart and CVS, Whole Foods adds offerings from Yolélé and Fancypants Baking Co.’s new keto cookies hit shelves at multiple retailers.
Innova Market Insights’ Top Trends in Sweets and Snacks
In a webinar this week, research firm Innova Market Insights listed its Top 10 Trends in Sweets and Snacks, and many of those characteristics were also displayed in products at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.
Yolélé and Woodland Foods Announce Licensing Partnership for West African Fonio Products
Yolélé, a revolutionary African food brand, and Woodland Foods, premier importer and supplier of over 1,600 specialty dried ingredients, have announced a long-term licensing partnership to distribute West African fonio products under the Yolélé brand to foodservice operators and retailers.
Retailers
Whole Foods Market
The leading natural foods retailer in the US
Target
"Tar-zhé!"
Online/E-Commerce
Amazon meets Costco meets WFM
Leading home delivery grocer in the northeastern US