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HEINZ’s Open Kitchen Features Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson

HEINZ announces “Open Kitchen,” a new event series from the brand’s Black Kitchen Initiative. Kicking off in partnership with world-renowned chef, Marcus Samuelsson, past and current Black Kitchen Initiative grantees will take over restaurant kitchens for exclusive pop-up experiences. Open Kitchen gives up-and-coming Black chefs new opportunities, experiences, resources, and exposure for their culinary businesses – one of the largest barriers to success in the American restaurant industry. The first takeovers will happen in New York and Atlanta.

Samuelsson – the creative and culinary force behind more than a dozen restaurants worldwide – will open two of his most iconic locations to past Black Kitchen Initiative grant recipients to kick off the program. Samuelsson will also collaborate with the chefs on exclusive dishes for each event.

  • On Dec. 6, Joy Crump and Beth Black will bring their signature Virginia flair to New York’s Red Rooster Harlem. Crump and Black own Foode + Mercantile in Fredericksburg, Va. The chefs celebrate Black culture through food, music, community and storytelling.
  • On Feb. 21, Samuelsson will open Marcus Bar & Grille in Atlanta to Lorraine “Mama” Smalls and Antwan “Cake Daddy” Smalls. The Smalls own My Three Sons in North Charleston, S.C., where they offer classic soul food with a regional Gullah flair that patrons regularly say is reminiscent of eating grandma’s homecooked meals.

“Opening a restaurant is tough business,” says Samuelsson. “From raising capital to getting people to know you are there, it’s an uphill battle, which is why I’m thrilled to partner with HEINZ on the new Open Kitchen series to provide resources and additional exposure to multiple Black Kitchen Initiative grantees. I can’t wait to see what these chefs cook up in my kitchens. The future is bright for each of them.”

The Open Kitchen series is the latest program coming out of the HEINZ Black Kitchen Initiative. Launched in 2020 in partnership with The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ), 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.

“The Black Kitchen Initiative is a hallmark program for HEINZ as we recognize the critical way America’s Black-owned food businesses continuously shape the nation’s food culture,” says Lizzy Goodman, HEINZ brand communications manager. “All Black Kitchen Initiative programming strives to set up Black food business entrepreneurs for long-term success. A key priority for us is growing and evolving the initiatives – as we’ve done with the new Open Kitchen Series – to ensure we’re addressing current challenges Black food entrepreneurs are facing in the industry.”

In addition to Open Kitchen, over the last three years, the Black Kitchen Initiative has committed a total of $3 million dollars in grants and released two seasons of the award-winning Black Kitchen Podcast Series. After announcing the latest $1 million commitment in Black Kitchen Initiative grants in July, the newest grant recipients have been selected. The full list can be found at heinz.com/blackkitchen/2023.

Foodies and fans can purchase tickets to the Black Kitchen Initiative Open Kitchen event in New York on Dec. 6 by visiting https://bit.ly/OpenKitchenHarlem. For more information about the Open Kitchen series and the Black Kitchen Initiative visit @heinzbki, @leeinitiative and @srrj_coalition on Instagram.

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Liviri Gives E-Grocer Grant to Montana’s Madison Foods

 


Liviri has selected the recipient of its first e-grocer grant program: Madison Foods, a locally owned, independent grocery store located in Ennis, Mont. Liviri, the leading innovator in reusable packaging solutions, developed the grant program to award resources to an independent grocer to drive operational excellence and optimize supply chain management for the ever-evolving e-grocery sector.

Madison Foods is the only grocery store in the Madison County area, serving 1,000 year-round residents and more than 4,000 additional seasonal residents during the summer months. Customers spanning a 50-mile radius utilize the grocer’s curbside pickup and delivery options, as Madison Foods is the only delivery option in the vicinity. With an increased demand during the warm summer months, it is more important than ever for the store to keep perishable foods in a temperature-safe zone for long periods of time. Liviri’s reusable, insulated Sprint totes provide an ideal solution.

“We’re honored to present Madison Foods with a grant package valued at over $7,000 to help them increase their e-grocery operational efficiencies and save them time and resources,” said Liviri General Manager Ken Longval. “Madison Foods is passionate about doing everything they can to serve their community, and it is evident they are ready to take their operations to the next level.”

Madison Foods was selected as the 2023 Liviri Independent E-Grocer Grant recipient because it demonstrated a strong need to increase business operational efficiencies for both storing and delivering perishables. Currently, the grocer is utilizing a basic residential refrigerator to keep groceries cold, and outdated coolers to transport perishable foods. While the team at the single location store works hard to keep up with demand, these operational constraints decrease the volume of deliveries it is able to fulfill. Madison Foods was seeking a better system for storing perishable foods after orders were shopped, as well as a better system to keep the foods at the appropriate temperature during deliveries or when storing orders for long periods of time.

“Right now, we have to make multiple trips in order to keep groceries cold during transit, which is not cost-effective,” said Chris Gentry, owner of Madison Foods. “With Liviri’s Sprint totes and a better storage system, we’ll be able to store food for significantly longer times, allowing us to deliver to more of our customers in one trip without worrying about spoilage.”

Madison Foods will be awarded the following:

  • $5,000 cash (intended to help cover costs to build up tech platforms, freezers, fridges, and training)
  • Liviri Sprint50 Insulated Totes
  • Sprint50 Ice Packs and Dividers
  • 2 Picking Carts

Liviri Sprint is a line of durable, reusable totes that helps grocers and produce shippers with staging and delivery. High-performance insulation provides flexible options for chilled storage, keeping contents in the safe temperature zone for 12+ hours and reducing the need for onsite and in-transit refrigeration. The products also help eliminate wasteful single-use packaging for a more sustainable last-mile solution.

Liviri is the leading innovator of reusable packaging solutions for thermal performance, operational efficiency and cost-effective scalability. Launched in 2019, and developed alongside leading nationwide shippers, Liviri’s startup strength stems from an Otter Products DNA rooted in protective case designs and thermal performance innovations. We offer the whole eGrocery package through a family of reusable, thermally protective totes and icepacks that provide durable, sustainable solutions to pick, pack, stage and deliver online grocery orders.

Madison Foods has been a locally owned, independent grocery store for 20 years in Ennis, Mont. It provides traditional brand-name items, natural and organic products, gluten-free selections, vegetarian products, bulk foods, and energy bars and drinks.

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SEG Mobile Food Pantry to Distribute 70K Turkeys to Families

Southeastern Grocers Inc.is holding more than 20 mobile food pantry events to distribute over 7,000 turkeys to families and individuals experiencing hunger. (Photo: Business Wire)

Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, is giving back to its communities facing food insecurity ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday by supporting more than 20 mobile food pantry events to distribute over 7,000 turkeys to families and individuals experiencing hunger. To further its commitment to alleviating hunger in the Southeastern communities it serves, SEG is also launching its annual in-store community donation program benefiting Feeding America – the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

The mobile food pantry events are designed to reach communities where the need is most significant, including in its hometown of Jacksonville, the Florida Panhandle, Central Florida, South and Southwest Florida, the New Orleans and Acadiana area and the greater Birmingham, Ala., area. SEG recognizes the importance of coming together during the holiday season and is eager to help families get access to the food they need to enjoy a festive meal together.

Raymond Rhee, chief people officer of Southeastern Grocers, said,“We believe in the spirit of giving and the transformative power of gratitude. This is the season to give thanks, and we are honored to share the abundance of the season by distributing turkeys and Thanksgiving meal essentials to families in need. By helping provide nourishment to our neighbors facing food insecurity, we are also fostering a sense of community and togetherness as we embrace the true meaning of the season. Through our ongoing commitment to giving back, we invite our valued customers to join us on this journey as we launch our holiday hunger relief donation program benefiting our long-standing partner Feeding America. Together, we can make this holiday season a special time for all.”

More than 44 million people, including over 13 million children, live in food insecure households, according to Feeding America. To help ensure no one in its communities goes without a warm meal this Thanksgiving, SEG is supporting mobile food pantry events organized by Feeding America partner food banks, including Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Feeding South Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, as well as local nonprofit and military organizations. Community members facing hardship are encouraged to reach out to their local food bank for more information regarding the distribution events and to explore additional resources for sustained assistance.

In the spirit of giving, and to broaden its support during the holidays, SEG is activating its annual holiday hunger relief program to help raise funds and awareness for food insecurity. Now through Dec. 19, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can help their neighbors in need this holiday season by donating $1, $5 or rounding up their grocery bill. Every cent raised will support Feeding America and partner food banks throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

To help customers stuff their carts with savings this holiday season, Winn-Dixie is offering a “Thanks-Winning” holiday meal for under $30,1 providing customers with a traditional Thanksgiving feast, including a 15-pound or less frozen Butterball turkey and SE Grocers sides. The grocer is providing additional savings opportunities by holding down the price on grocery staples with its brand-new seasonal discount program. Winn-Dixie’s new “Price Hold” program lowers prices on more than 1,000 commonly shopped items to help customers stretch their grocery budget more than ever before. Customers can save over 20%2 on average when shopping items marked in blue Price Hold signage throughout Winn-Dixie stores.

In appreciation of the grocer’s associates, all Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day to give associates a well-deserved day of rest with family and friends. All stores will close as normal Wednesday, Nov. 22 and reopen for regular business hours Friday, Nov. 24.

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