The $5,000-$50,000 Mobile Food Challenge: A Pitchfest for Food Trucks and Mobile Food Entrepreneurs

Posted on February 5, 2021 by VSheree

FoodTruckEmpire.com and Huntington Hill Ventures Announce National Business Pitch Competition Providing Financial Investment and Mentorship to Mobile Food Startups.

To help innovative mobile food entrepreneurs realize their dreams, Portland-based investor Huntington Hill Ventures is in search of the next great food idea. The “Five to Fifty” Mobile Food Challenge is a virtual event culminating in an online summit in which three finalists will pitch to a panel of angel investors on March, 31st for anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 dollars.

Brett Lindenberg, founder of FoodTruckEmpire.com says, “Angel investments like this are usually reserved for tech companies and not small food businesses that represent the backbone of American entrepreneurship. I’m thrilled we can help bring this opportunity to a group of deserving food entrepreneurs.”

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The 2021 International Winemakers Summit Honors the Contributions of Diverse Winemakers Around the World

Posted on February 5, 2021 by GFDI Team

Winemaking is a centuries-old profession originating in Old World France and yet, in 2021 little is still known about the rapidly increasing growth of diversity in the industry. With an estimated 80,000 wineries worldwide, the U.S. is 4th in the world in wine production. Often absent from the narrative are the independently run, Black-owned wineries with roots dating back as far as the early 1940s with John June Lewis, Sr. of Virginia. Serving as a vehicle to further increase awareness of the diversity in the wine industry, Urban Connoisseurs is partnering with Uncorked & Cultured a lifestyle media platform, to host the inaugural 2021 International Winemakers Summit (IWS), a virtual 3-day event highlighting some of the world’s most esteemed winemakers of African descent.

Placing an emphasis on diversity, the 2021 International Winemakers Summit sessions will educate consumers on varietals available in a virtual marketplace, informative panels moderated by world-class sommeliers and will feature 12 Black award-winning winemakers from around the world. The sommeliers will cover topics such as Wine Trends; Terroir and The Difference; The Diverse Aromas and Flavors in Wine; and so much more. The 3-day summit will educate everyone from the novice to the connoisseur and will take place February 19-21, 2021.

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The Kroger Co. Foundation Announces Racial Equity Fund Build It Together Partners

Posted on February 2, 2021 by GFDI Team

Foundation collectively invests $3 million to advance racial equity through partnerships with Black Girl Ventures, Everytable, LISC and Thurgood Marshall College Fund

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) Foundation (“Foundation”) today announced the recipients of its Racial Equity Fund Build It Together grant challenge, an initiative awarding $3 million in grants and forging partnerships with innovative organizations to help build more equitable, inclusive communities. This initiative reflects a focus area of Kroger’s Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan, a 10-point commitment announced in October 2020 to accelerate and promote greater change in the workplace and in the communities the company serves.

The Foundation invited 14 organizations to apply for up to $1 million in funding through the Build It Together grant challenge, which welcomed organizations to submit proposals aimed at positively uplifting, supporting and impacting communities of color. A panel of judges, including Kroger associates and leaders, external partners, and local community foundations, evaluated the proposals and selected four finalists that collectively will receive $3 million to accelerate their visions.

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DoorDash To Provide Over $1 Million In COVID-19 Relief Grants To Help Canadian Restaurants

Posted on January 27, 2021 by GFDI Team

DoorDash’s latest Main Street Strong effort will support restaurants in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 crisis

DoorDash today announced it would provide $1,125,000 CAD in local COVID-19 relief grants as part of its expanded grant program to help restaurants in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. Restaurants will be able to apply to receive a $3,000 CAD grant to be used to offset costs associated with the ongoing pandemic. The grant program is part of the company’s $200 million USD, 5-year Main Street Strong Pledge, which includes a $10 million USD grant program to help restaurants in select cities across Canada and the United States.

“Restaurants in our city have been heavily impacted by the ongoing pandemic. This new program from DoorDash embodies the importance of working together and supporting each other through these difficult times. I want to thank DoorDash for stepping up and for providing financial assistance to restaurants across this city. I hope that restaurants in Toronto are able to take advantage of this grant program so we can continue to build up and support our city’s main streets,” said Mayor John Tory, City of Toronto.

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Specialty Food Association To Hold Fancy Food Show September 27-29, 2021

Posted on January 26, 2021 by VSheree

Specialty Food Association Fancy Food Show 2021

Modified Version of Summer Fancy Food Show Set for Javits Center, New York City

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has scheduled its sole in-person trade show for 2021. Set for September 27-29, it will be known as the Fancy Food Show 2021 and held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The SFA consulted with its members, New York City and State officials, the Javits Center, and health experts, to gauge the safety and viability of moving forward with a live event. After an intensive analysis, the SFA decided upon a modified, late third-quarter Fancy Food Show.

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Posted in Beverage (Wine, Beer, Spirits) - Industry Trends and News, News and Other Happenings, Specialty Food - Industry Trends and News | Leave a comment