Photo: Derek Robinson, Falayn Ferrell and Warren Luckett (L to R)
Founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell, and Derek Robinson, Black Restaurant Week® is dedicated to celebrating the flavors of African-American, African, and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Through a series of events and promotional campaigns, Black Restaurant Week’s culinary initiatives help introduce culinary businesses and culinary professionals to the community.
It began as a one-city food experience in Houston. The mission: celebrate African American, African, and Caribbean influences in the culinary industry, educate consumers on the abundance of cultural cuisines. The organization supports restauranteurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers, and food trucks.
According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, 500,000 restaurants and bars are faced with an uncertain future due to lost revenue and increased debt over the past 22 months. 1.1 million minority-owned businesses often face heightened challenges and disparities when securing business funding. The shocking statistics championed Black Restaurant Week’s More Than Just a Week campaign.
2022 campaign initiatives and events include, but are not limited to:
- Free entry-level business registration and inclusion in national culinary directory organization’s website
- Online culinary marketplace retailing Black-owned food and houseware brands
- NOSH Culinary Showcase to create and highlight business opportunities for catering companies and private chefs
- Soundbites Food Truck Parks to showcase and drive business to food trucks
- Small Business Grants and Business Development training from Black Restaurant Week’s non-profit Feed the Soul Foundation
“More Than Just a Week speaks to our commitment to support the black culinary community throughout the entire year,” states Falayn Ferrell, Black Restaurant Week, LLC’s Operations Managing Partner. “More than 90,000 restaurants and bars closed nationwide since 2020, it is essential that we create a platform that drives awareness to black-owned culinary businesses outside of our culinary tour.”
For more information about Black Restaurant Week, its events and participating restaurants, please visit: blackrestaurantweeks.com
About Black Restaurant Week
Black Restaurant Week LLC is an annual, multi-city culinary movement celebrating the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Black Restaurant Week partners with Black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers, and food trucks to host a selection of culinary experiences aimed to expand awareness and increase support for Black culinary professionals. The organization was founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. Connect with Black Restaurant Week on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
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