Our Story
Why we do what we do
How It All Began
It started, like so many good things do, with missing home. Betty had lived in the UK for years — she had a career, a circle of friends, a life that looked complete from the outside. But there was a gap that no amount of supermarket shopping could fill.
She missed the food. Not just any food — the specific, irreplaceable food she grew up with. The suya spice that smelled like Lagos evenings. The ofada rice that only tasted right when it came from a particular market. The palm oil that was deep red and rich, not the pale, stripped version sold in British shops.
“I realised if I was missing it this much, so were hundreds of other people. So I decided to do something about it.”
What began as sending a few parcels to friends grew into something bigger. Friends told friends. Word spread through WhatsApp groups and church communities. People she\'d never met were messaging to ask if she could bring back garri, or crayfish, or a particular brand of seasoning cube.
In 2018, Betty made it official. Betty's Mart was born — a small business with a simple promise: to bring authentic Nigerian foodstuffs to the UK, sourced with care and delivered with love. Six years later, we\'re still doing exactly that.
Our Journey
From Kitchen to UK-Wide
Six years of growth, one parcel at a time.
A Kitchen Becomes a Business
Betty starts shipping small parcels of garri and palm oil to friends and family missing the taste of home.
Going Online
Demand grows through word of mouth. Betty launches a simple WhatsApp-based ordering system and covers Greater Manchester.
UK-Wide Delivery
Betty's Mart partners with reliable couriers and begins delivering across England, with a growing product range of over 40 items.
A Trusted Brand
500+ households served, a warehouse unit in Manchester, and direct supplier relationships across three Nigerian states.
What We Stand For
Our Values
The principles that guide every decision we make.
Authenticity
We source the real thing — no shortcuts, no substitutes pretending to be authentic. If it doesn't taste like home, we don't stock it.
Quality
Every product is hand-checked before it goes out. We'd rather send nothing than send something below standard.
Community
We're a small business serving a community that misses home. Every order matters to us, and every customer is treated like family.
Meet Betty
The woman behind the mart
“I\'m Betty. I grew up in Nigeria watching my mother and grandmother cook — measuring with their eyes, tasting with their fingers, and somehow always getting it exactly right. The food was more than food. It was how we showed love.
When I moved to the UK, I carried those flavours with me in memory. But memory only goes so far. I wanted my children to taste what I tasted. I wanted my friends to understand why I lit up when someone brought back a bag of proper garri.
So I started Betty's Mart. Today, I personally select every product we stock, often on sourcing trips back to Nigeria. I know my suppliers by name. I know which market sells the best crayfish, which farm presses the richest palm oil, and which spice blender still does it the old way.
This isn\'t just a business to me. It\'s a bridge between two homes — and I\'m so glad you\'re here.”
Betty
Behind the Scenes
A Day at Betty's Mart
Packing orders, checking stock, loading deliveries.
Why People Choose Us
More Than Just a Shop
There\'s a reason hundreds of households keep coming back.
Authenticity You Can Taste
Every spice, grain and oil is sourced directly from Nigerian markets — not mass-produced imitations. The difference is immediate the moment you cook.
Genuinely Fresh Stock
We keep small batches and turn over stock quickly. Spices are ground fresh, frozen goods are handled cold-chain, and nothing sits around gathering dust.
Reliable UK-Wide Delivery
From Manchester to London, we deliver with care. Frozen items arrive insulated, dry goods arrive sealed, and we always confirm delivery details with you first.
Personal Customer Care
No call centres, no automated replies. You speak directly with Betty, who knows the products inside out and genuinely cares that your order is right.
Ready to Taste the Difference?
Browse our range or send us a message — we\'d love to help.