From Banking to Spices: Dr. Omo Ogbamola on Winning the 2026 Media Pitch Challenge and Scaling African Food in North America

Interview with Dr. Omo Ogbamola on winning the 2026 Media Pitch Challenge and her mission to bring African food brands into mainstream North American retail.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 11:21 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Vanguard News

A Strategic Evolution: From Banking to Manufacturing

Dr. Omo Ogbamola’s journey into the food industry was a "strategic evolution" rather than a sudden shift. Drawing from her extensive background in banking advisory, she utilized her expertise in risk management and financial systems to build Tripplemos Food Processing Company. Her goal was to move beyond advising businesses to creating a tangible, scalable brand that preserves African culinary heritage while meeting the rigorous standards of North American markets. For Dr. Ogbamola, manufacturing authentic African spices locally in Canada was essential for ensuring quality control, regulatory compliance, and supply chain stability.

Winning the 2026 Media Pitch Challenge

In February 2026, Dr. Ogbamola was named the winner of the Women of Rubies Media Pitch Challenge. Her presentation stood out not just for the potential of her products, but for the "operational depth" and measurable traction she demonstrated. "I did not pitch potential, I presented traction," she explains. By focusing on systems integration—aligning finance, compliance, and logistics—she convinced judges that Tripplemos was positioned for sustainable growth within both niche ethnic markets and mainstream retail distribution.

Breaking Barriers in Mainstream Retail

One of the significant hurdles Dr. Ogbamola faced as a Nigerian immigrant entrepreneur was shifting the perception of her brand from a "small ethnic business" to a structured manufacturing company. Today, Tripplemos products are available on Amazon Canada, Walmart Canada Marketplace, and over 20 retail stores. Dr. Ogbamola views representation on these platforms as a signal of legitimacy, normalizing African food products for a broader audience. She argues that media visibility serves as a "bridge between potential and opportunity," accelerating the credibility needed to open doors with major distributors and investors.