A brand new Afro-Caribbean superstore in Manchester has opened it's doors to customers in Openshaw. Owners of DOA at the Lime Square Retail Park are hoping to become a one-stop shop serving the African and Caribbean community of Greater Manchester and beyond.
DOA officially welcomed customers late last month but they have steadily grown in popularity thanks to word of mouth and the help of prominent social media accounts promoting local black owned businesses in Manchester which gained them a repost from UK rap superstar, Stormzy. The supermarket is run by in-laws turned business partners Bukola Ariyo and Oladayo Olanrewaju.
READ MORE: It's 'like Paris, but between Wigan and Chorley' and people travel miles for it
The duo from Stockport decided to create DOA after becoming frustrated with the diminishing quality in imported ingredients from countries in Africa and the Caribbean as well as the experience of shopping at Afro-Caribbean food stores. With lofty ambitions of turning DOA into an 'Afro-Asda', the pair say they are hoping to provide a convenient, clean, affordable and quality experience for all their customers.
Modelled after major supermarkets like Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, DOA's well organised aisles stock a variety of favourites from fresh fruit and vegetables like plantain, cassava and yam, herbs and spices, oils, Afro-Caribbean hair products, a halal butchers and much more.
Speaking to the MEN, Oladayo said: "It's a family business, It all started from the fact that when we go and do African shopping we saw how the food we have at home (Nigeria) isn't really the same over here. When we come here, the food changes in terms of quality and the way it's being presented to the world at large.
"We just felt that we can do better than that, and we feel that every African shop is in a warehouse or in a corner shop. Why can't we do something that is the standard of a Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's?
"In a neater, more conducive environment and a nice ambiance. We thought, can we do it? What would it take to do it? So we went away and did our research. Can we be in the UK and still feel like we're back home, that's what inspired us really."
DOA is opened from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
