Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A.-based BensBoyz CEO and Founder Joseph Wyatt aims to bring more African-American representation to the seafood industry.
To do so, he founded BensBoyz in 2020, which has two sides to the business: one side working directly with restaurants and food trucks, and the other side creating value-added seafood products that are rooted in African-American culture for retail and foodservice companies.
Both sides of the business feature African-American-style Southern comfort food, which blends seafood with an array of spices and cooking techniques. BensBoyz’s mission is not only to deliver high-quality dishes to customers, ranging from gourmet burgers to artisanal tacos, but also to promote cultural recognition and awareness through seafood, Wyatt told SeafoodSource.
“I believe the African American culture has always been lost in translation,” Wyatt said at the 2024 Seafood Expo North America, which took place 10 to 12 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. “In every city, there is a soul food restaurant and a cultural African-American restaurant, but we don’t see those [seafood] items on the shelves. BensBoyz is here to lock in and display that culture in a premium way.”
By blending traditional Southern recipes with African-American culinary techniques, BensBoyz offers a modern perspective on beloved classics, offering fully cooked meals and value-added products that are easy to cook, Wyatt said.
Wyatt said BensBoyz recently signed a partnership agreement with Target. Beginning 5 May, BenzBoys Salmon Patty, salmon fillet, and preseasoned shrimp products, will be available at 450 Target locations on the U.S. East Coast. Additionally, BensBoyz will soon launch a Nashville hot catfish and shrimp product, as well as seafood nuggets for kids.
“When you attend Seafood Expo North America, you look up, and you know which pavilion you’re at. These countries and cultures are proud to be displaying their booths. I’m proud, too, to be a small voice of who and where our tastes come from. BensBoyz wants to open up a market and bring in a new generation into the seafood industry,” Wyatt said. “Our goal is not only to grow nationally but to display our cultural items internationally.”
