Operations

Heinz investing $1M in Black-owned restaurants

Photo: Heinz

August 19, 2024

In its fourth year of issuing Black Kitchen Initiative grants, HEINZ is committing an additional $1 million to preserve the legacy of Black-owned restaurants in America, bringing its total contrubitons to $4 million.

"The Black Kitchen Initiative grants are a tentpole moment for us each year, not only because we recognize the importance of Black-owned food businesses in the American culinary space, but also because entrepreneurship has been one of the core values in our brand DNA since day one," Lizzy Goodman, brand communications manager of HEINZ U.S., said in a company press release.

HEINZ will distribute grants of $20,000 to selected businesses through The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice. Through Aug. 31, restaurant owners may apply for a Black Kitchen Initiative grant here. Applications will be reviewed by SRRJ founders and a selection committee and will be evaluated on factors including the restaurant's community involvement and plans for the grant money.

U.S. Black-owned businesses drive over $200 billion in annual revenue and support over 3.5 million jobs but face serious financial hurdles and inequity in access to capital. A recent report revealed that 86% of Black small business owners were concerned about access to capital, and despite being more likely to apply for small business loans, they are significantly less likely to receive the full amount requested.

The HEINZ Black Kitchen Initiative aims to ease the financial burden for Black small-business owners and promote long-term business health, said Cheryl Day, founder of Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice.

"For a fourth year, we are grateful to Heinz to be able to support heritage chefs, bakers and restaurants and continue to uplift communities all across the country," she said in the release.

In addition to the grant program, HEINZ has launched the "Open Kitchen" event series in partnership chef Marcus Samuelsson, where Black Kitchen Initiative grantees took over restaurant kitchens in New York City and Atlanta for exclusive pop-up experiences. Open Kitchen's focus was to offer up-and-coming Black chefs new opportunities and exposure for their