Today we’d like to introduce you to Uche Jumbo.
Hi Uche, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My background is in the food industry, leading global quality excellence, governance and strategy. Over time I saw a clear gap in the breakfast category. Consumers wanted real nourishment and clean ingredients, yet the aisle was dominated by ultra-processed products that didn’t reflect their health priorities.
At the same time, I understood the strength of Africa’s ancient grains, especially fonio, a nutrient-dense, pesticide-free, climate-resilient grain that has fed communities for thousands of years. It aligned perfectly with where food is heading.
That insight led to CHOPUTA and we created a clean, modern hot cereal built around fonio. From sourcing with smallholder farmers in West Africa to building an entirely new category in the U.S., the journey has required focus and persistence.
Today CHOPUTA is the first fonio-based cereal in the country. We’re growing through retail, Amazon and direct-to-consumer, and consumers consistently tell us they feel the difference.
My goal is to change the breakfast aisle by bringing ancient wisdom back to the table, nourishing how we start our days, and supporting the small farmers who keep these traditions alive.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and the biggest hurdle by far has been education. Most Americans have never heard of fonio, so you’re not just introducing a new product, you’re introducing an ancient grain, its benefits, its flavor and its cultural relevance, all at once. Changing consumer behavior in a category as entrenched as breakfast takes time, consistency and a clear message.
The second major challenge is funding the education required to drive awareness at scale. Sampling, content, partnerships and in-store visibility all cost money, and as a self-funded founder I’ve had to make every dollar work twice as hard. It slows the pace sometimes, but it forces discipline and sharpens the strategy.
These challenges have shaped CHOPUTA in meaningful ways. They pushed me to refine the product, tighten the brand story and stay laser-focused on helping people understand why fonio matters. And when consumers try it and feel the difference, it reinforces exactly why the work is worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CHOPUTA?
CHOPUTA is a modern breakfast brand built on Africa’s most ancient supergrain, fonio. We make clean, nutrient-dense hot cereals that are convenient, delicious and rooted in real nourishment. Our mission is simple: change the breakfast aisle by bringing ancient wisdom back to the table and creating food the body immediately understands.
What sets us apart is that we didn’t just launch a new product, we created an entirely new category. CHOPUTA is the first fonio-based cereal in the U.S., and our formulations highlight what makes fonio special. It’s naturally gluten-free, minimally processed, climate resilient and grown without pesticides by smallholder farmers in West Africa. The result is a cereal with a gritty, satisfying texture and bold flavors that stand out from the mushy, ultra-processed options consumers are used to.
We specialize in clean ingredient lists, globally inspired flavors and true nutritional integrity. No gums, fillers, refined sugars or artificial additives. Just a short list of real ingredients that fuel the morning well.
I’m most proud of two things. First, the product itself. Consumers consistently tell us they feel the difference in their energy, comfort and fullness levels when they eat CHOPUTA. And second, the impact behind the product. By sourcing fonio, we support small farmers, preserve biodiversity and elevate one of Africa’s oldest crops on a global stage.
For readers discovering us for the first time, CHOPUTA is not just another breakfast option. It’s a reimagining of what breakfast can be nourishing, culturally rooted and better for people and the planet.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is creating things that leave people better than I found them. In my work, that means building products that nourish, educate and empower. With CHOPUTA, it means reshaping how people think about food moving away from ultra-processed convenience and back toward ingredients with integrity, history and purpose.
I care about impact at both ends of the value chain. On the consumer side, I want people to start their day with foods their bodies actually recognize. On the sourcing side, I want small farmers to benefit from global demand for the crops their communities have cultivated for generations.
What matters is using business as a tool for connection, culture and better health. If I can build something that helps people feel good, honors where the food comes from and creates economic opportunity for the communities behind it, then the work is meaningful.
Pricing:
- $3.99/cup
Contact Info:
- Website: https://choputaeats.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choputa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChoputaEats/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CHOPUTA
Image Credits
CHOPUTA
