Everytable has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Kroger Co. Foundation's Racial Equity Fund Built Together challenge.

The foundation grant challenge awarded $3 million in grants and forging partnerships with innovative organizations to help build more equitable, inclusive communities, according to a press release. This initiative reflects a focus area of Kroger's Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan, a 10-point commitment announced in October 2020 to accelerate and promote greater change in the workplace and in the communities the company serves.

Founded in 2016, Everytable is a multi-channel, fresh-prepared food business blending grab-and-go storefronts, a subscription delivery service, SmartFridges and institutional foodservice supplied by a central kitchen with meals priced according to neighborhood income.

Everytable's social franchise model is pioneering a way to produce food that dramatically reduces the cost of healthy, fresh and prepared meals, providing a viable alternative to fast food. In announcing the grant award, Kroger Co. stated that Everytable's social equity franchise program removes barriers to business ownership for Black and Latino entrepreneurs with the goal to eliminate racial wealth disparities and expand access to healthy food.

Everytable will use its $1 million grant to expand a public-private funding structure to spur an increase in business ownership for Black entrepreneurs and people of color, with the goal of opening 40 people-of-color franchises over the next two years.

The fast casual brand is also partnering with Post & Beam, a Black-owned, South Los Angeles restaurant, on a dish called the Creole Chicken Grain Bowl, according to a press release.

The entrée celebrates Post & Beam's soulfully crafted dishes, and includes spice-roasted chicken, dirty rice (a savory blend of andouille sausage, brown rice, roasted sweet potatoes, red pepper, green onions and lemon), collard style kale, spinach and Post & Beam-inspired chicken gravy. It will be available starting Feb. 4 in all Everytable storefronts and through the company's meal subscription and delivery service that now extends throughout most of Los Angeles County.

"Bringing fresh, quality ingredients to the South Los Angeles community has always been a part of our mission, and partnering with Everytable helps us fulfill that mission," John Cleveland, chef and co-owner, Post & Beam, said in the release. "Making healthy food accessible and affordable has been a challenge in this community, and together we are tackling this problem at a time when it matters most," added Roni Cleveland, a native of South LA and co-owner, Post & Beam.

During the pandemic, Everytable has provided more than 4 million meals as part of local emergency response efforts. The company also launched a Social Equity Franchise program to empower and enable marginalized entrepreneurs of color to own and operate their own Everytable storefronts through access to capital and real-world training and education.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for Everytable to partner with such an acclaimed restaurant that has been a staple in the community," Sam Polk, CEO, Everytable CEO, said in the release. "Moreover, we celebrate and admire Chef John and Roni, who continue to inspire and be a resource for Black leaders and entrepreneurs in their community."

Copyright © 2021 Networld Media. All rights reserved., source Industry News