When Ahmad Tamim Sahel realized the need for halal products in his community, he knew he could help. Ahmad moved to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2017, so he knew the struggles of acclimating to a new country, culture and life. He decided to open a store: the Afghan Supermarket. 

Ahmad’s Afghan Supermarket, located at 2600 University Avenue in West Des Moines, features a variety of products including halal meats and other foods, Turkish mats and rugs and other culturally appropriate products. 

There are over 700 Afghani families who moved to the Central Iowa area in the past few years. Many of these families are Muslim and need halal foods, especially meat. “’Halal’ means ‘permission’ in Arabic. For those who eat halal, food must be prepared in certain ways,” Ahmad explained. Ahmad’s store ensures these families can continue to purchase and eat food that aligns with their religious beliefs.  

Ahmad enrolled in the LSI Community Navigator Pilot Program, where he had access to resources on topics such as business planning, financial management, marketing and capital access to help him lead his business successfully.  

Ahmad is currently in the final stages of approval for a large loan, with the help from the LSI team, that will allow him to continue to provide culturally appropriate goods to his community. With the loan, Ahmad is planning on starting a bakery and expanding his inventory and reach in his community. 

“As a business owner, Ahmad picks his inventory with care and prices everything with the community in mind,” said Maggie Cave, Programs Supervisor at LSI. “His expansion to open the halal bakery is another area where Ahmad has seen a need and is working to fill it.” 

Ahmad’s favorite part about the store is seeing how many non-Afghan people also enjoy the store and his products. He is passionate about sharing elements of his culture with his new community in West Des Moines. 

In addition to opening his grocery store, he is working to create a nonprofit that will foster a community for the local Afghani community. Ahmad envisions a place for all ages to gather, converse in native languages and share advice or give support. He is always willing to help with everyday problems from apartment searching to exploring employment opportunities to connecting with LSI for a variety of services. 

“When Ahmad first came to LSI in April of 2022, he was spending lots of time driving new arrivals to and from his store and to other community services, organizing food deliveries and spreading needed information to Afghan communities,” said Maggie. “The passion and care Ahmad has for his community is so evident in how he runs his business.” 

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