由 jpichiban Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:01:20 GMT
放大图标箭头向外指向EatOkra的移动应用列出了附近的黑人餐厅。图片来源：EatOkra
2016年，安东尼·爱德华兹二世（Anthony Edwards Jr.）和他的当时女友贾尼克（Janique）初到布鲁克林时，他们很难找到既舒适又熟悉的食物。
爱德华兹说，他们探索了周边地区，但发现附近的黑人餐厅寥寥无几。除了群聊和非正式清单外，几乎没有其他资源可以帮助他们。于是，在现任妻子贾尼克的鼓励下，他利用自己的计算机科学学位创建了一个平台，供用户寻找黑人经营的餐馆。
两人共同创立了EatOkra，这款应用如今拥有2万月活跃用户，2024年收入约70万美元。
“当我们推出这个平台时，人们立刻被吸引，并坦率地告诉我们，‘我一直在寻找这样的应用’，直到今天我们仍能听到这样的反馈，”EatOkra的首席执行官兼首席技术官爱德华兹告诉CNBC。
他们并非孤例。2020年，新冠疫情肆虐之际，布拉克斯·里奇（Brax Rich）也在寻找支持黑人餐厅的方法。他推出了Black Foodie Finder，最初是一个社交媒体空间，用于突出餐饮场所。如今，Black Foodie Finder在Instagram上拥有130万粉丝，并在其应用中重点介绍餐厅、厨师和食谱。
“我认为我们的影响力非常大，”Black Foodie Finder的首席执行官里奇告诉CNBC。“我们会推荐一家餐厅，然后不久，店主就会在社交媒体上发帖，‘嘿，你们这些新顾客是从哪里来的？’”
以下是这些平台如何展示黑人企业和黑人食品专业人士的：
EatOkra旨在提升独立餐厅的地位
EatOkra用户可以根据关键词或距离搜索黑人餐厅、餐饮服务和食品卡车。其数据库中可浏览的美国各地企业约有2万家，包括它们的位置、用户评价、联系信息和在线订购选项。EatOkra以非洲裔菜肴中常用的植物命名，还在其市场中列出了黑人经营的食品产品。
该平台为希望加入数据库的企业提供了两个层级：免费的Lite选项和每月9.99美元的Plus订阅，后者提供额外功能、在线商业课程以及更多的应用空间。爱德华兹表示，Plus会员是EatOkra的主要商业模式。
EatOkra目前的合作伙伴包括餐饮公司ezCater和百事可乐的Dig In计划，后者旨在推广黑人企业。它还通过与Apple Maps合作，帮助制作黑人餐厅的本地指南。
放大图标箭头向外指向Black Foodie Finder应用的地图功能。图片来源：Black Foodie Finder
该公司提供有关营销、供应链和餐厅增长等主题的资源，EatOkra的业务解决方案总监兼食品服务教育者杰森·华莱士（Jason Wallace）表示。
“这正是独立餐厅经营者所需要的，”华莱士说。“有一种夫妻店的性质需要改进，以便他们能够发展那些CEO技能、COO技能，而这些正是EatOkra提供的。坦率地说，对于经营者来说，知道他们并不孤单，这令人耳目一新。”
Batter & Berries的执行主厨兼合伙人肯·波尔克（Ken Polk）表示，这家位于芝加哥的餐厅几年前加入了EatOkra，以提高其知名度，尤其是在可能使用EatOkra寻找当地黑人企业的旅行者中。
“我认为这个平台非常巧妙，特别是在我们这个时代，信息很容易被淹没，很难找到某些东西，”波尔克告诉CNBC。“它是一个灯塔。”
爱德华兹表示，EatOkra为黑人餐厅建立社区的努力在10月在纽约市首次亮相的Culinary Creatives Conference中达到了高潮。这一天的活动吸引了约500名与会者，建立联系，突出供应商，并讨论商业策略。 rategies.A panel at EatOkra’s Culinary Creatives Conference in New York City in October 2024.Courtesy:The most rewarding part, Edwards said, was seeing people find mentors and strike deals with other businesses. He hopes to eventually plan a multiday national conference.”This conference aims to be an incubator, be a catalyst for current and future entrepreneurs to come together — to get the education, to get the community and the networks they need,” Edwards told CNBC.Jeremy Joyce, founder of website Black People Eats, said EatOkra provides a platform for restaurants that don’t have the resources for marketing campaigns. He’s discovered numerous restaurants through EatOkra, he told CNBC.”What they’re doing is very impactful. Because I did the research, and there, at the time, was no other app who was doing what they were doing,” Joyce said.Clark Wolf, founder and president of restaurant consulting firm Clark Wolf Company, said EatOkra’s rise comes at a moment of increased representation and recognition of Black food culture. He cited the 2021 Netflix docuseries “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America” and the success of James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi as examples of the growing interest.”This is at a time when in American culture, even though there’s a push against it, we have been acknowledging Black history, African American influences in food and farming,” Wolf said.Still, challenges lie ahead for EatOkra and the businesses it supports. Wallace said fluctuating food prices, President Donald Trump’s push for more deportations and consumer disposable income all present potential headwinds for independent restaurants.”We’re still resolute in what we’re going to continue to do and who we’re going to fight for,” Edwards said. “That’s not going to change.”Black Foodie Finder fosters a food-loving networkRich said Black Foodie Finder is a one-stop shop for all things food and beverage in the Black community.Social media is Black Foodie Finder’s “meat and potatoes,” Rich said, and it often serves as a gateway for newcomers to BFF.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsThe find chefs feature on the Black Foodie Finder app.Courtesy: Black Foodie Finder”It’s really just been about a community and, as we highlight these people, making sure we put them in their best light,” Rich told CNBC. “I honestly can say that’s been the best return. It’s kind of the secret sauce.”On BFF’s app, which has 75,000 active users and about 15,000 restaurant listings, users can find nearby Black-owned eateries as well as profiles for local chefs and recipes for dishes such as peach cobbler.Heather Rose, CEO of restaurant consulting firm Black Ink Team, said BFF’s spotlight on chefs boosts businesses by creating access to the people behind them.”It puts you directly in contact with the person who is the creative driver behind the business,” Rose told CNBC.An attendee displays a beverage at Black Foodie Finder’s inaugural BFF Cookout in Memphis, Tennessee, on Sept. 1, 2024.Courtesy: Black Foodie FinderBlack Foodie Finder has previously inked corporate partnerships, but its current primary revenue source is its BFF Cookout, a food festival in Memphis, Tennessee, where the company is based. The inaugural cookout in September, with sponsors including Clorox-owned charcoal company Kingsford, brought about 3,000 people to Tom Lee Park for food vendors and musical performances.Rich said it was important for him that the cookout appealed to everyone, from families enjoying kid-friendly programming to vendors receiving fair compensation. The festival will return this year, he told CNBC, and he’s looking to expand it.”At the end of the event, our vendors came to us and were like, ‘Wherever you go, I want to follow,'” he said.Rich is also hoping to build out BFF’s media presence. The company is currently looking into producing short shows and video segments highlighting restaurants, possibly on television.Food being served at the BFF Cookout in Memphis, Tennessee, on Sept. 1, 2024.Courtesy: Black Foodie FinderIt’s part of Rich’s vision for Black Foodie Finder as a go-to space to highlight businesses.”Most of the businesses and most of the people in the food space, they are experts at food,” Rich said. “Sometimes, they just don’t have the platforms or support to grow. And so that’s what we are. We are that support system.”
原文链接：https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/15/apps-eatokra-black-foodie-finder-restaurants.html