The owner of Zena Gourmet Popcorn made her big-city food festival debut at the Toronto Food and Drink Fest on March 31–April 2 and received fanfare and feedback to scale the business.

Omobolanle Helen Abajngim told Black Dollar Magazine that the event was an eye-opener for her in many ways.

“It was good. I got to showcase the products we sell and sample a lot of flavours to see which ones stood out to customers,” Abajngim said. “People were telling me, ‘I like this flavour, or I prefer this one,’ so it was an eye-opener for me because it helped me streamline what flavours I’m going to try and get on store shelves.

Thousands of people attended the event over three days, a massive boon to Black business owners introducing their businesses to Canada’s largest city for the first time or capturing new customers.

“The goal is to scale the business. So that was the main reason I signed up for the festival,” Abajngim said, adding that sales were good for the most part.

The gourmet popcorn company focuses on savoury and sweet, offering flavours such as dill pickle, cheesy caramel, white cheddar and heat, and classic caramel and kettle corn.

Founded in August 2020 during the COVID pandemic, Abajngim said she got the idea for the business when people were stuck in periods of forced isolation.

“We couldn't do much with being stuck inside. Either you were working from home or watching Netflix, or just lounging at home,” Abajngim said. “I felt the need that people would want to experience going to the movies and enjoying popcorn even at home. I threw flavours that are not regularly bought and sold and started at local farmers markets.”

Abajngim said she sets up at the Sudbury Market every Sunday and has an Easter pop-up market planned on Saturday, April 8, at the Crosscut Distillery.

She added that she is also planning Canada Day and Rib Fest events in Sudbury and other events throughout the spring and summer in various parts of Ontario, including Barrie.