Amazon has spotlighted an Illinois-based food company in its Selling Partners channel. The feature story highlighted Nigerian-influenced Iya Foods and the success it has achieved selling its products on the Amazon site.

According to the article, Iya Foods launched in 2015 strictly selling sauces and spices. Toyin Kolawole, the company’s founder and CEO, quickly realized that Iya Foods could grow by offering its products in the Amazon store. Since establishing its Amazon presence, it has grown and diversified. Today, it sells a complete line of Africa-inspired gluten-free foods, such as sauces, baking mixes, and baked goods. It also now has a factory.

"We have a full-solution, gluten-free bakery manufacturing plant that can do cookies, crackers, bars, soft cookies, hard cookies, just name it," Kolawole was quoted as saying in the article. Kolawole, a Nigerian-American, moved to the United States two decades ago.

Kolawole credits the company’s growth to increased brand exposure among U.S. consumers and gaining followers through its online sales. Its Amazon presence has attracted customers who were already seeking gluten-free products. Once customers find their products and virtual store, they read the reviews and explore the company’s best-selling items.

To remain competitive, Iya Foods takes advantage of the free tools Amazon provides to sellers. "I can look at the Amazon reviews, and I can look at competitor reviews. I can see what customers don’t like; I can see what they like," Kolawole told Amazon. "And then I [add my products to Amazon’s store] at a slightly lower cost, and we’re able to grow market share really fast. And that’s something that has been instrumental."

Since 2015, Iya Foods has grown into a multi-million-dollar company. Kolawole aims to increase revenue to $100 million over the next five years but also plans to continue innovating to produce "good food made with good ingredients."