Press release
For the Third Consecutive Year, HEINZ® Commits $1 Million in Grants to Support Black-Owned Food Businesses Nationwide
In partnership with The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice, HEINZ® Black Kitchen Initiative grants help foster long-term business
About this update from The Kraft Heinz Company
[{"type":"text","content":"\nIn partnership with The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice, HEINZ® Black Kitchen Initiative grants help foster long-term business success\n\n\n PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAs a brand that’s been on tables for over 150 years, HEINZ® recognizes the critical way America’s Black-owned food businesses continuously shape the nation’s culinary culture. HEINZ, The LEE Initiative, and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ), announce today that they will provide an additional $1 million in Black Kitchen Initiative grants to Black food business entrepreneurs nationwide, bringing the brand’s total contribution to $3 million over the past three years. A continuation of the organizations’ multi-year partnership, the grants seek to preserve and uplift the legacy of Black-owned food businesses by providing much needed financial assistance.\n\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717784819/en/For the third year, HEINZ® commits $1 million in grants through the Black Kitchen Initiative (Graphic: Business Wire)\nIn 2023, Black-owned restaurants, food spaces, and chefs continue to face serious financial hurdles and inequity in access to capital. A recent report revealed that 37 percent of Black small business owners had difficulty accessing new capital and financing – 14 percentage points higher than their non-Black peers.1 With this additional donation of $1 million in grants, the HEINZ Black Kitchen Initiative doubles down on its commitment to help promote long-term business health and success.\n\n\n“The HEINZ Black Kitchen Initiative aims to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Black food culture by helping to break down barriers that keep Black voices and cooking out of America’s culinary space,” says Megan Lang, Director of Brand Communications, HEINZ. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with The LEE Initiative and SRRJ. We’ve heard from past recipients just how impactful the grants have been in supporting their businesses across the country, and we are thrilled to provide another $1 million in grants in 2023.”\n\n\nIn 2023, HEINZ will distribute up to 60 grants through The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice. Grant recipients will receive support of up to $25,000, depending on need. Through July ...