2023 National Small Business Person of the Year: Abdirahman Kahin, CEO & Owner of Afro Deli & Grill

Abdirahman Kahin, the CEO and owner of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Afro Deli & Grill, is the 2023 National Small Business Person of the Year. Adirahman immigrated to the United States in 1996. In 2014, after attending community college and working at a media company, he realized his dream was to open a restaurant focused on healthy, fresh, accessible African food. The pandemic forced a new location to close, but the business pivoted to grab-n-go products. It now supplies eight stores in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport along with fifteen other stores across the metro. Afro Deli also secured a contract and partnered with Meals on Wheels and Minnesota Central Kitchen to provide home-delivered meals to vulnerable community members. Since its inception, Afro Deli has utilized numerous SBA loan programs like the 7a Express and SBA pandemic relief. Abdirahman is a committed community member serving on several boards and is passionate about furthering food security and anti-hunger efforts. Learn more: https://www.sba.gov/nsbw #SmallBusinessWeek