Black-Owned Enterprise Highlight: 2 Should-Strive Snack Manufacturers

When Denise Woodard began rising her allergy-friendly cookie firm, Partake Meals, she had nearly 10 years of expertise working at Coca-Cola. However, she stated, that meals trade information didn’t open many doorways for her Black-owned enterprise. 

“Girls, notably girls of colour, are under-funded, and since I had no connection to the enterprise capital world, I knocked on lots of doorways [and] spent a very good period of time sending LinkedIn messages to ask questions and request introductions,” Denise advised The FruitGuys through e mail. 

Denise didn’t hand over: She kick-started her enterprise in 2016, promoting cookies to New York Metropolis grocery shops from her automotive. The thought that her cookies might assist children with meals allergic reactions — like her daughter, Vivienne — saved her going when issues bought powerful. 

Her footwork paid off: In 2018, the southwest area of Entire Meals Market began promoting Partake’s cookies. Immediately, Partake provides allergy-friendly cookies, graham crackers, and breakfast mixes nationwide. 

The FruitGuys is that includes Partake and a fellow Black- and woman-owned model, Pipcorn, for Black Historical past Month in February 2024. Their snacks will probably be in each Considerate Snack Field, exposing them to 1000’s of latest eaters. They’ll even be out there by the case for followers. 

Supporting Black-owned companies issues — not simply throughout Black Historical past Month, however day-after-day of the 12 months — as a result of it’s a easy however efficient means to assist handle a long-term disparity. 

The Black-Owned Enterprise Hole

In 2020, Black individuals made up 14.2% of the U.S. inhabitants, however they solely accounted for 2.4% of all enterprise homeowners. The Brookings Institute studies that if Black enterprise possession retains rising on the tempo it’s immediately, it might take greater than 250 years for these percentages to align.

Fortunately, the historic hole is closing. The variety of Black-owned companies within the U.S. jumped 13.64% from 2017 to 2020. Total enterprise progress throughout that point was a lot slower, measuring simply .53%. 

By celebrating Partake and Pipcorn, The FruitGuys hopes to assist each companies proceed rising. Every firm has a singular mission and entrepreneurial story. Right here’s a fast have a look at what makes these two Black-owned companies so particular. 

Partake: Feeding Each Hungry Youngster

As you’ve already learn, Denise Woodard based Partake together with her then 1-year-old daughter in thoughts. Vivienne is allergic to nuts, eggs, bananas, and corn, which makes the whole lot from birthday events to airport journeys a supply of stress for her and her mother. 

“Vivi was my first youngster, Partake was like my second,” Denise stated, including that her daughter is now 8 years outdated. “I’m so pleased with what she’s been capable of be part of. Not solely has she witnessed her mother develop an concept right into a beloved model, however she’s seen that when you’ve an awesome concept that meets an actual want, you’re employed arduous and with integrity, and also you encompass your self with nice individuals, then great issues can occur.”

Partake’s cookies seem like every other grab-and-go grocery retailer deal with — however they’re removed from abnormal. Each field is licensed gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, Orthodox Union Kosher, and free from the highest 9 allergens. Their flavors vary from classics like Crunchy Chocolate Chip (Denise’s favourite) to seasonal delights like Delicate-Baked Chocolate Peppermint. 

That stated, Partake is about far more than cookies. The corporate is a Licensed B Corp that believes in “radical inclusivity,” which Denise defines as “pushing for transformative modifications that create a really equitable and accessible society.” 

A part of that mission is preventing meals insecurity. Denise is each Black and Asian-American, and he or she’s obsessed with feeding each hungry youngster, whether or not they’re scuffling with allergic reactions or financial disadvantages. 

About 1 in each 17 American kids has a recognized meals allergy and nearly 1 in 5 kids reside in food-insecure households. If you break these statistics down by race, Black kids are the most certainly to have a meals allergy and/or reside with both low or very low meals safety. Partake companions with organizations like #HashtagLunchbag, Eat. Be taught. Play., and The Birthday Celebration Mission to supply meals and sources to food-insecure children and households.

Pipcorn: Tiny Corn Does Mighty Good

Pipcorn is a Black-owned enterprise on a mission to assist heirloom crops and sustainable agriculture. The additional crunch and daring taste in Pipcorn’s snacks (together with miniature popcorn, cheese balls, “crunchies,” and twists) come from heirloom corn, which produces tiny chompable kernels. 

Two of Pipcorn’s co-founders, Jen and Jeff Martin, found the corn in 2012 when Jen introduced some house from the Chicago well being meals retailer the place she labored. On the finish of a protracted day of packing for a transfer, the siblings popped the corn and fell head-over-heels in love with it. They ultimately tracked it again to its supply — an Indiana farmer with a stash of heirloom seeds — and based Pipcorn to share it with the world. 

Jen and Jeff teamed up with Jeff’s spouse, Teresa Tsou, to create a thriving Black-, AAPI-, and LGBTQ-owned firm that prioritizes sustainability. Greater than a decade later, Pipcorn nonetheless sources eco-friendly, open-pollinated heirloom corn from household farmers. 

“Open pollination is necessary as a result of it retains our crops genetically numerous,” the Pipcorn staff explains on their web site. “Over many generations, open-pollinated seeds adapt to native climates and rising circumstances, strengthening the resiliency of the genetic line. Rising open-pollinated crops additionally retains us from dropping distinctive varieties ­­— like our mini heirloom popcorn! — at a time when our agricultural biodiversity is shrinking.”

On prime of their environmental advantages, Pipcorn’s heirloom corn packs extra fiber and antioxidants than typical corn right into a smaller package deal. The corporate’s snacks are non-GMO, gluten-free, and offered in enjoyable flavors like white cheddar and cinnamon sugar. 

Black Entrepreneurs Pay It Ahead

Along with preventing meals insecurity, preserving heirlooms, and pushing for a extra sustainable future, Pipcorn and Partake additionally pay their success ahead by giving fellow Black entrepreneurs a leg up. 

Every month, Pipcorn spotlights a special Black enterprise proprietor on its weblog and social media pages “to amplify consciousness for Black-founded manufacturers.” They’ve featured Delisa and Zach Harper of Funky Mello, Ibraheem Basir of A Dozen Cousins, Lilian Umurungi-Jung of MUMGRY, and extra.

In the meantime, Partake launched an annual fellowship program referred to as Black Futures Fellowship to additional the careers of lively traditionally Black faculty or college (HBCU) college students.

“I based Black Futures Fellowship, now a 501(c)(3), in 2020 once I was constructing out the Partake staff and located the applicant pool lacked range,” Denise stated. “Pondering again to my very own profession, to this point, I spotted that in lots of rooms I used to be usually the one lady — notably the one lady of colour.”

Denise had a breakthrough thought: “If I can educate, encourage, and provides college students the alternatives in CPG (client packaged items) meals and beverage, maybe over time the variety of the trade can extra immediately signify the individuals it serves.” 

Black Futures Fellowship matches lively HBCU college students with paid internships at CPG meals and beverage corporations, and to this point, they’ve positioned 20 fellows.

How You Can Have fun Black Historical past Month

You’ll be able to assist Pipcorn and Partake by making an attempt their scrumptious merchandise. Have fun Black Historical past Month this February with their mouth-watering cookies, graham crackers, cheese balls, and cinnamon twists!

When you already get The FruitGuys’ Considerate Snack Containers, preserve a watch out for Pipcorn and/or Partake’s merchandise in your containers every week of February 2024. You too can buy their merchandise by the case to indicate your assist.