Success Story: Amazing Alheri

Amazing Alheri Serves Authentic West African Cuisine to Northern California

Location: Northern California | Shasta County | Redding 

Business Type: Food Production and Catering  

CalOSBA Partners: Shasta Cascade Innovation Hub 

Assistance Received: Technical Assistance and Business Planning 

California State Assembly District: 1 

California State Senate District: 1 

Visit Amazing Alheri online. 

Charity and Kobina Abban-Saah are bringing the bold, authentic flavors of West Africa to underserved markets across Northern California. What began as Charity creating drinks for friends as a way to share memories of home and time spent in her mother’s kitchen has blossomed into Amazing Alheri, a business celebrating vibrant West African culinary traditions. 

Starting at farmers markets, Charity and Kobina gradually expanded to pop-ups and catering events, building a loyal following drawn to their culturally rich dishes. But they had bigger ambitions. They wanted to make their cuisine more accessible, reaching customers beyond event-based sales by offering prepared meals in local stores. 

The challenge? Transitioning from a mobile catering model to a packaged food brand requires entirely different expertise. Marketing new products, navigating food licensing requirements, developing packaging, and scaling production were uncharted waters for the couple. They had the passion and the authentic recipes, but needed guidance on the business fundamentals to make their expansion a reality. 

That’s when they connected with the Shasta Cascade Innovation Hub and partners including SBDC and Siskiyou Farm Co. Through the Food Venture BootCamp cohort and one-on-one consultations, Charity and Kobina received the technical assistance they needed to transform their vision into action. 

“Being able to utilize mentors from partners like SBDC and Siskiyou Farm Co has been helpful as a small business,” Charity shared. “When you have this passion but don’t know what you are doing, you can come and meet professionals to help grow your business.” 

The Food Venture program provided exactly what Amazing Alheri needed: expert guidance on product development, production processes, packaging design, licensing requirements, and marketing strategies. Learning from industry experts and receiving feedback from other food entrepreneurs in the region helped Charity and Kobina refine their approach and build confidence in their expansion plans. 

Amazing Alheri has successfully launched a line of ready-to-eat African meals featuring five culturally authentic dishes: Jollof Rice & Spiced Chicken, Egusi Soup & Pounded Yam, Jollof Rice & Suya Beef, Meat Pie, and Zobo Drink. The transition from pop-up catering to a scalable packaged meal brand has opened new revenue streams through local retailers, direct-to-consumer sales, and continued event-based offerings. 

Charity and Kobina’s journey is a great example of how technical assistance can help passionate entrepreneurs bridge the gap between cultural authenticity and commercial success. With the right support, Charity and Kobina are now sharing the joy and laughter of West African cuisine with communities throughout Northern California, just as Charity’s mother once shared those flavors in her kitchen. Learn more about Amazing Alheri by visiting them online at facebook.com/amazingalheri. 

Are you a California small business owner looking to scale your operations or launch a new product line? Connect with the Shasta Cascade Innovation Hub to access mentorship, technical assistance, and resources designed to help your business grow. 

Updated: 2/23/2026