HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 2022) – The survival of Black-owned restaurants is in jeopardy. Less than 20% of U.S. employer businesses are minority-owned, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Black Restaurant Week LLC, the organization that celebrates the flavors of African American, African and Caribbean cuisine with a series of regional cultural events, aims to support Black-owned culinary businesses with substantial programming outside of their 10-day, multi-city tour across the U.S.

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.

“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.”

Black Restaurant Week was founded in 2016 by three friends: Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. 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.

Last year, the organization showcased 1200 Black-owned culinary businesses across the United States – including Toronto and Vancouver – and generated an average of 15% sales increase.

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 events 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

For more information about Black Restaurant Week, its events and participating restaurants, please visit: blackrestaurantweeks.com