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| Wally Amos, founder of Cookie Kahuna |
Two of the best ways to support black-owned businesses is to shop in their stores and recommend their products to others. It's not always easy though because sometimes its hard to know if a company is black-owned.
So here are 5 food brands owned by African Americans that you can look for and purchase at your local grocery store:
#1 - Glory Foods: Founded in 1989 in Columbus, Ohio, this company offers 85 products, including seasoned canned greens, bagged fresh greens and other vegetables and seasoned cooking bases. Glory Foods, founded by William F. “Bill” Williams and three partners, sells their products at retailers nationwide.
#2 - Michele's Syrup: Located in South Holland, Illinois, makes maple syrup in three flavors -- Maple Crème, Honey Crème and Butter Pecan that you can even eat on ice cream. The company was founded by Michele Hoskins who started by cooking up batches of her syrup in her mother's basement. She launched her company in 1984 and has been a supplier to Denny's, Walmart, General Mills and Sara Lee.
#3 - Comfort Cake Mix: This company is owned by Amy Hilliard and specializes in premium poundcakes made from scratch. A native of Detroit, Amy launched her company in 2001 and sells her products online and nationally through foodservice and retail channels. Amy's products have been featured on CNN, Fox, The Food Network, AOL, Home Shopping Network, Fortune, Black Enterprise, Essence and other national publications.
#4 - Southern Culture Foods: This Decatur, Georgia-based company makes pancake and waffle mix, bacon rub and syrup. Owner Erica Barrett starting cooking for her family at the age of 9. Her first break came when she took first place in a food contest being held by The Food Network and Lea & Perrins, winning $10,000 and a trip to New York City. The rest she says is history.
#5 - Cookie Kahuna: Wally Amos started his career in 1975, but has called Hawaii his home for 40 years. Using his Auntie’s recipe for chocolate chip cookies, he opened the world’s first gourmet cookie store and now sells his famous cookies over the Internet and in local Hawaii grocery stores. Most people remember him as Famous Amos.