Dr. and Dr. (Mrs.) Barth and Gachomo Shepkong are both young Ph.D. holders and are entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing cultural diversity to the Columbus, Ohio market in forms of entertainment through the Columbus African Festival, their fashion line, The Ankara Fashion Place, and now, Food by introducing Fork in Nigeria. New Americans Business magazine spoke with the couple, parents of a baby boy and expecting another soon.
Fork in Nigeria
Fork in Nigeria is about serving gourmet Nigerian staples in a fast-paced mobile setting. The founder, who is based in Detroit, Michigan has been a friend over the years, and he shared a lot on his social media platforms. Unlike starting any business from scratch, buying into a franchise affords you brand recognition. Fork in Nigeria is one of a kind. First, there is nothing like it in the city, it is rare to find gourmet foods served in a fast-food setting. Also, it brings African cuisine to the mainstream foodservice industry.
Columbus
The Columbus market is very similar to Detroit in that it is diverse and a growing city. There is a lot of interest in supporting small family-owned businesses and there is a lot of curiosity for trying something new. Being a food truck, the intention is to bring Nigerian delicacies to our neighborhoods. So, while we have a base location at 4400 Crossroads Center, Columbus, Ohio, we will be participating in various community events.
Customers
Our target customers are all individuals who are interested in exploring international cultures and cuisines. Additionally, we hope to offer authentic Nigerian dishes to those Nigerians or Africans that crave a taste of home abroad.
Cuisine
Typically, Nigerian staples including rice and fufu. So, you should expect to find jollof or fried rice, pounded yam with eguisi, okra, or vegetable soup; and one of its main delicacies being suya.
Message
We are delighted for such a time as this. This is much needed in Columbus, Ohio and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of it. We look forward to serving this amazing diverse community. As mentioned earlier, our main location will be 4400 Crossroads Center, Columbus, Ohio. Our phone number is 614-966-9969, our website is www.forkinnigeria.com, and we are also on all the social media platforms @forkinnigeria
