News Category: Restaurants

$1.5 Million in New Grants Will Support LGBTQ+-Owned and Allied Restaurants

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Teams Up with Grubhub For Another Year of Grants to Aid in Growth and Development

Washington, DC — America’s LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and bars serving food will once again find a vital lifeline this year stemming from the ongoing partnership formed by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community and certifying body for LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide, and Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace.

Today the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce opened applications for the NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, a program made possible by a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. The grants are expected to range from $10,000 to $25,000 and funds can be used for things like updating security and security protocols, updating/purchasing new equipment, community involvement, marketing and PR services, updating digital/e-commerce presence, purchasing product, staff training programs, employee pay and/or staff incentivized wages, COVID-19 recovery, and maintenance/updating of current infrastructure.

“We often say at NGLCC that if you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “That is especially true of the LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and establishments across America who kept our communities and first responders fed throughout the pandemic and have been so active in the recovery. We’re proud to again partner with Grubhub, with the support from the Grubhub Community Fund, in offering grants to support businesses throughout the nation this round with an even wider scope of opportunities for grant utilization to help them succeed.”

“NGLCC has been an incredible partner to Grubhub, and it was a no-brainer to renew this program which has supported so many LGBTQ+-owned businesses across the country,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s senior vice president of Communications and Government Relations. “We’ve heard so many stories of how independent restaurants have used these grants to do amazing things for their business and in their communities, and I’m excited to see what new and exciting things come out of the next group of grant recipients.”

Once again, under the innovative grant program, the NGLCC has set a goal to allocate 30 percent of the funds to businesses owned by people of color and transgender and gender expansive (TGX) individuals. Between now and March 2023, NGLCC will roll the grant program out regionally, with applications for East Coast establishments launching on January 24, 2023 through February 14, 2023. Applications for the Central US will open in February 2023, and those for the West Coast will roll out in March 2023. Restaurants wishing to learn more about applying for grants should visit nglcc.org/ghgrant.

The NGLCC’s network of more than fifty Affiliate Chambers across America will once again help amplify this grant opportunity to support local restaurants. Those local chambers will again benefit from this initiative’s Affiliate Chamber Fund. In addition to supporting local efforts to share the grant opportunity, this fund has and will continue to enable any establishment that receives a grant that is not currently a member of an NGLCC local affiliate chamber to have one year of membership paid.

For more information on the Community Impact Grant Program regarding restaurant eligibility requirements, timelines, how to apply, and more, please visit www.nglcc.org/ghgrant.

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About NGLCC

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses, known as Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers.
www.nglcc.org @nglcc

About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

Announcing Grant Recipients of AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund: 73 AAPI-Owned Small Businesses Win Grants of Up to $100,000

Grants supported by the Grubhub Community Fund and distributed by National ACE have been awarded to entrepreneurs across the country to boost AAPI small business recovery

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, DC – Grubhub, a leading food-delivery marketplace, and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) announced that 73 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned  restaurants have been awarded grants of $25,000, made possible with a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. In addition, three finalists were awarded $100,000 grants each live on-stage at the AAPISTRONG Annual Conference in September.

The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is intended to provide relief to AAPI small business owners in the restaurant industry, amidst an extended period of unforeseeable and unprecedented economic and social volatility. In 2022, the restaurant industry has been hit hard with staffing difficulties, supply chain delays, and inventory shortages.

Krizzia Yanga, owner of the restaurant Bonifacio said, “From factory shutdowns to a scarcity of commercial truck drivers, COVID has affected not only the prices and supply of domestic products, it also made imported products nearly impossible to acquire. As an AAPI restaurant with ingredients that are imported from the Philippines and other Asian countries, the travel restrictions, staff shortages in the logistics industry, and rising cost of transportations have made it difficult for us to maintain fair prices and stay true to cooking authentic Filipino flavors.”

Above: Krizzia Yang, Owner, Bonifacio, Columbus, Ohio

Bonifacio was one of the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund finalists, and received $100,000 from the fund. “We are the first full-service and longest standing Filipino restaurant in Columbus and while we have made a name for ourselves and introduced many in our community to Filipino food, it continues to to be a challenge to compete with the larger restaurant groups and chains that Columbus is inundated with, especially in a time of increased xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment.”

Christy Lang, the owner of Smoove Ice Cream based in New York City said, “We started our business during the pandemic, so unfortunately, we didn’t qualify for any government assistant programs since our operating date was after January 2020.  Tourism has been a big part of the Chinatown small businesses, and with travel restrictions, our business has been hit dramatically in 2020 and 2021. Some big challenges that we are facing currently are inflation, supply chain disruption, and labor shortage.”

The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is here to help restaurants respond to ongoing challenges such as paying employees’ wages, expanding operations, or repairing damage to the restaurant caused by discrimination or bias.

Another finalist from Hawaii, Robynne Maii, is doing everything she can to combat food insecurity on her island. “We are concerned about food security in Hawaii. If the boats stopped coming to our islands, the state would have about a two week food supply. This is scary and concerning. When we opened Fête, it was important for us to source as many products as we could, locally. 90% of our produce, eggs, meat, poultry, and seafood is sourced locally. By honoring how we source, we send a clear message to our community of where we stand. We support other local businesses to help sustain the economic flow,” said Maii.

Above: Chef Robynne Maii, Fête, Honolulu, Hawaii

These grants are designed to help AAPI-small business owners, their employees, and the communities they serve as they face continued challenges after emerging from the pandemic including inflation, decreased revenue, economic volatility, and labor shortages. They also provide an opportunity for small business owners to give back to and uplift their communities.

Roongkant Preechathammarach, a $25,000 grant recipient, shared: “I ended up donating about 500 meals to healthcare workers to various hospitals in Manhattan. I always offer 5 to 7 different opinions out of excitement to share and satisfy all these health care heroes working so hard! This month, we catered a Meals-On-Wheels event held in Tribeca serving 800 people.

Above: Roongkant Preechathammarach, owner, Lil Chef Mama, New York, New York

A national survey released by National ACE and Reimagine Main Street in May 2022 found that about 40 percent of AAPI respondents lacked confidence to fund an unplanned $5,000 business expense, and over half lacked confidence they could fund the initiatives that would propel their small business to the next level, such as a marketing campaign, increasing payroll, or purchasing property or equipment.

“Our AAPI-owned restaurants have experienced severe losses throughout the pandemic and even worse, are victims of hate, discrimination, and bias at their place of business,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Grubhub’s ongoing commitment to AAPI-owned restaurants is demonstrated by the support they provide annually to National ACE. The contributions from Grubhub and its diners will provide hope for AAPI restaurant owners that have not been listened to or provided for.”

“Restaurants play a vital role in their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping them have a positive impact on the people they serve,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s senior vice president of Communications & Government Relations. “This grant program, which is made possible through our Grubhub Community Fund, helps alleviate some of the financial strain restaurants have experienced over the last several years – allowing them to market and grow their business and invest in new technologies. We are proud of how our partnership with National ACE for the last two years has helped AAPI-owned restaurants thrive.”

Grubhub is serving the restaurants that are serving New York City

The Nourish Spot opened in Jamaica, Queens with the goal of introducing healthy food options to the local community. Today, owners Dawn and Jade partner with Grubhub to make sure people know about The Nourish Spot, not only in Southeast Queens but across New York City.

Grubhub partners with restaurants like The Nourish Spot to help them expand their reach. From providing marketing services to setting up online store fronts, Grubhub is there to help restaurants find new customers and serve their local communities.

 

Learn more about how Grubhub gives back to the communities where we operate.

 

Grubhub and Bloomin’ Brands Expand Partnership with More Restaurants

Diners can now order from Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill, with Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Tender Shack coming soon

 

CHICAGO, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Grubhub and Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLMN) announced today they are expanding their partnership to bring all of Bloomin’ Brands concepts to the Grubhub Marketplace. All Bloomin’ Brands concepts will be available on Grubhub for pickup or delivery, adding to the select Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations already available on the platform.

More than 1,700 listings will be available across the country, including more than 1,000 restaurant locations and 700 virtual kitchens. Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Aussie Grill are currently available on Grubhub, with Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and virtual chicken tender brand, Tender Shack, becoming available soon.

“We want diners to come to Grubhub and be blown away by the number of choices to order from,” said Liz Bosone, vice president of restaurant success at Grubhub. “We’re excited to build on our relationship with Bloomin’ Brands and expand our restaurant supply. Our 32 million diners across the country now get access to all of Bloomin’s well-known and delicious portfolio of brands, driving even more orders and providing more earning opportunities for our delivery partners.”

“This amplified partnership allows us to continue to expand our omni-channel off-premises approach and bring our well-known, favorite brands to even more guests,” said Sheilina Henry, Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Off-Premises Dining at Bloomin’ Brands.

To celebrate the partnership, several offers are now available for new and existing diners exclusively through Grubhub for a limited time. New diners can receive up to 40% off orders of $40 or more at Outback Steakhouse and $15 off orders of $40 or more at Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill. New and existing diners are able to receive $5 off orders of $15 or more at Aussie Grill.*

To order from any of Bloomin’ Brands portfolio restaurant concepts through Grubhub, download the Grubhub app or go online to www.grubhub.com. And for more information on how to join Grubhub, please visit get.grubhub.com. Both pickup and delivery are available at participating locations.**

*Terms and conditions apply to these promotions. See full terms below.
**Participating locations include all company-owned restaurants

https://grhb.me/OutbackSteakhouse
https://grhb.me/Carrabbas
https://grhb.me/BonefishGrill
https://grhb.me/AussieGrill

About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), and is a leading U.S. food ordering and delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

About Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.
Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies in the world with a portfolio of leading, differentiated restaurant concepts. The Company has four founder-inspired brands: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. The Company owns and operates more than 1,450 restaurants in 47 states, Guam and 15 countries, some of which are franchise locations.  For more information, please visit bloominbrands.com.

SOURCE Grubhub Inc.

Why Price Controls Are Bad For Restaurants

Originally Posted on 07/16/2021
Updated on 8/24/2022 to include data showing depressed growth for restaurants impacted by price controls

Grubhub was founded in Chicago in 2004 to help restaurants grow. Since then, we have worked hard to build a business that generates more orders for restaurants at a low cost to them, helping make even the smallest independent restaurant competitive with much larger establishments that have enormous marketing budgets.

While the general idea behind price controls is that they enable restaurants to access delivery, marketing and other services at artificially low prices, the actual impact is far different. Price controls create strict limits on what local restaurants can do to promote their business, find new diners, engage regular customers and send more orders out their doors.

That is why we continue to fight price controls in court. We complied with them during the pandemic, effectively conveying hundreds of millions of dollars to restaurants as they were forced to close their doors to dine-in customers. Now, many cities, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Minneapolis, are shifting toward reasonable compromises: in San Francisco, we recently withdrew our litigation after the city passed an amendment to its cap allowing restaurants to opt into rates higher than 15 percent if they chose additional services. Unfortunately, others – including New York City – have so far let strict permanent caps remain in place.

Understanding How Grubhub Helps Restaurants Grow 

Grubhub provides delivery services to restaurants that opt to use them, but the heart of Grubhub’s business — and the value we bring to restaurants — is the marketing support and visibility we provide to increase orders for restaurants. And that is how our fees are structured — to give restaurant partners options so they can find what works best for their particular business.

  • Restaurant partners that use Grubhub Direct or our Direct Order Toolkit products have powerful tools to grow their businesses without any marketing fees.
  • Restaurant partners that opt to use the Grubhub Marketplace to generate orders from our network of 32 million diners select a negotiable marketing package that generally ranges from 5 to 15 percent per order based on the level of marketing and support that makes sense for their business.
  • Restaurant partners that choose to use Grubhub’s drivers (vs. their own, in-house delivery staff) to complete orders pay Grubhub a market standard delivery fee.

We spend hundreds of millions of dollars in marketing annually to generate orders for our restaurant partners. In fact, in New York City prior to the pandemic, thousands of restaurant partners opted into some of these services that offered them more marketing options—with many of them opting to pay Grubhub more than 15 percent of the order price. When all of the costs and expenses of running our business are accounted for, we make approximately 1 percent of total food sales as profit — and that was before temporary price controls significantly impacted our ability to operate a profitable business.

The services Grubhub provides are akin to what companies like Google offer to promote small businesses. Or at a more basic level, we are similar to a company that sells billboard space to the local hardware store. Grubhub gives independent restaurants access to promotional ability that was previously unavailable to them because of the expertise and scale required.

Permanent price controls eliminate our ability to offer many of these services to restaurants, because the cost to our business would become too high. 

Restaurants Impacted by Price Controls Are Getting Left Behind 

In June 2021, one year after New York City first implemented a cap on commissions for third-party delivery apps, Grubhub’s data showed that restaurants impacted by that policy were not participating in the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery at the same rate as other businesses.

In fact, restaurants impacted by the cap – in other words, those whose contracted rates with Grubhub were adjusted down in order to adhere to the new regulation – saw their order volumes grow at just 6 percent over that year. Meanwhile, restaurants not impacted by the price control, or those whose contracted rates were already at or below the 15 percent threshold, saw their orders grow nearly 75 percent faster, at a rate of almost 80 percent. 

While surely an unintended consequence of its legislation, the New York City Council’s choice to make price controls permanent has hurt the very restaurants, including small and family-owned restaurants, that it intended to protect. That’s because independent restaurants, unlike large chain restaurants which have their own resources, often rely on platforms like Grubhub for marketing and promotions. Price controls have limited the accessibility of those services. 

The effects of the price control trickled down to hurt both Grubhub’s drivers and restaurants’ own drivers, as well. While tips for restaurants and drivers grew by nearly 60 percent between June 2020 and 2021, restaurants that were impacted by the cap and drivers who deliver from these restaurants saw no significant growth in tips, likely because orders to those restaurants grew just slightly. 

Ultimately, price controls are exactly the wrong thing to do when restaurants need more support, visibility and order volume than ever. Grubhub serves restaurants, and we will always stand up for them and work hard to protect their ability to grow and thrive.

Supporting the Safe Spaces that Restaurants Create for the LGBTQ+ Community

In 2021, $2.1 Million in Grants, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, supported LGBTQ+ and Allied Restaurants and Establishments

By Justin Nelson, Co-Founder & President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Bars and restaurants have long served as safe spaces for historically marginalized LGBTQ+ people. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made it increasingly difficult for these independent restaurants and bars to stay in business.

Thanks to support from the Grubhub Community Fund and Grubhub diners through its Donate the Change program, NGLCC distributed nearly $2.1 million in grants to over 100 LGBTQ+ and allied restaurants in 2021. To help ensure we reached a wide range of grant applicants, we partnered with over 30 LGBTQ+ Affiliate Chambers across the country who shared the opportunity within their respective communities.

Building on last year’s success, we are continuing our partnership with Grubhub in 2022 with the support of a $2.1 million grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. This year, we will focus the restaurant grant program on LGBTQ+ and allied restaurants and establishments in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Denver, and Portland, as well as cities throughout California.

The gratitude expressed by last year’s grant recipients was extremely heartwarming and reminds us why the work we do is so important to the LGBTQ+ community. And, equally as important, why continuing the work is a high priority.

Penny Baldado, Owner of Cafe Gabriela in Oakland, California

“As a trans-masculine and queer, immigrant person of color, I’ve worked hard and put all my love and energy into building a beautiful and welcoming space in Café Gabriela. I’ve remained resilient through COVID and this grant is the injection of funds that we need to continue along our journey to full recovery.”

David Perruzza, Owner of League of Her Own and Pitchers DC in Washington, D.C.

“Building community in a fun and safe place has been our mission since the very beginning. We’re relieved and thankful for these funds. This grant literally saved my business, and I can’t thank Grubhub and NGLCC enough for that reality. We are looking forward to more stable days ahead.”

Joy Crump, Founding Partner and Chef at FOODE + Mercantile in Fredericksburg, Virginia

“The past 19 months have been some of the most challenging in my career. Restaurant people are resilient people, but we are forever changed, and these funds are crucial as we continue to evolve with new technologies and tools to help us compete in this new normal.

Helping the LGBTQ+ business community thrive is core to who we are at NGLCC, and partnering with organizations like Grubhub, who shares our mission to help these independent businesses thrive, helps that mission become reality.

To learn more about Grubhub’s Community Impact programs, click here.

About the Author

As Co-Founder and President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Justin Nelson has the privilege of representing the LGBTQ+ business community and overseeing the largest LGBT economic advocacy and business development organization in the world. NGLCC has over 50 LGBTQ+ affiliate chambers in the United States representing America’s 1.4 million LGBTQ+ business owners.

Grubhub and Brinker Partner to Bring Fan Favorites to the Grubhub Marketplace

Diners can now order from Chili’s® Grill & Bar, It’s Just Wings® and Maggiano’s Little Italy® locations across the country on Grubhub

CHICAGO and DALLAS, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace and Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) announced today a partnership to bring the Chili’s® Grill & Bar, It’s Just Wings® and Maggiano’s Little Italy® brands to Grubhub.

More than 2,500 locations will be available on the Grubhub Marketplace in the coming weeks. Chili’s® Grill & Bar and It’s Just Wings® (Chili’s virtual brand) locations are currently available on Grubhub, with Maggiano’s Little Italy® locations available soon.

“We make it our mission to add as many restaurants to the Grubhub Marketplace as possible so our diners can order all of their favorites in one place,” said Kathleen Glassett, director of enterprise sales at Grubhub. “We’re excited to welcome Brinker’s brands to Grubhub and drive more orders from our more than 32 million diners.”

“After continuing to see impressive growth in our off-premise sales, we’re more motivated than ever to deliver excellent value to our guests by meeting them where they are,” said Michael Breed, Chili’s senior vice president of marketing. “Our partnership with Grubhub allows us to work toward a frictionless guest experience that ensures we’re providing them with the ease, convenience and flexibility they seek in an increasingly digital world.”

Off-premise dining has become a huge part of Chili’s business, with more than 35 percent of Q3 sales coming from outside the restaurant, including 11 percent from delivery alone.

To celebrate the partnership, diners can get 11 free boneless wings from It’s Just Wings® and a free Skillet Queso from Chili’s® Grill & Bar, with their purchase of $15 or more. More details about the offer can be found here.

To order Chili’s® Grill & Bar, It’s Just Wings® and Maggiano’s Little Italy® with Grubhub, download the Grubhub app or go online to www.grubhub.com. And for more information on how to join Grubhub, please visit get.grubhub.com.

About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

About Brinker International, Inc.
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) is one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies and home of Chili’s® Grill & Bar, Maggiano’s Little Italy® and two virtual brands: It’s Just Wings® and Maggiano’s® Italian Classics. Founded by Norman Brinker in Dallas, Texas, we’ve ventured far from home, but stayed true to our roots. Brinker owns, operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two U.S. territories. Our passion is making people feel special, and we hope you feel that passion each time you visit one of our restaurants or invite us into your home through takeout or delivery. Learn more about Brinker and its brands at brinker.com.

SOURCE Grubhub Inc.

 

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Announces 280 Hispanic-Owned Restaurants Awarded Grants

2021-2022 Program Made Possible by Nearly $2 Million Donation from Grubhub Community Fund

Washington, D.C. — The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) announced today the names of nearly 300 Hispanic-owned restaurants awarded grants between $5,000 to $10,000.

The grant program is made possible by support from the Grubhub Community Fund. With support from Grubhub diners through its Donate The Change program, the fund provided USHCC with almost $2 million in program support in 2021.

Of the 4,500 applications received from around the country, the chosen 280 came from 28 states including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas, among others. The awards were given to help Hispanic restaurant owners who struggled to stabilize after the initial hit from the pandemic. With the awarded sum, these restaurants will be able to keep their doors open and continue serving their local communities. The complete list of grant recipients is included below.

“In Hispanic households, great food and conversation are what bring people together. We’re so proud to be honoring 280 small businesses with grants that can really make an impact on the lives of the owners and their surrounding neighborhoods,” explain Ramiro Cavazos, President and CEO of the USHCC. He continues, “The grantees come from diverse parts of the country and even more diverse backgrounds, which is emblematic of the 60+ million Hispanics found throughout the United States.”

“USHCC’s ability to reach so many small businesses, particularly the 280 independent restaurants that received grants last year through this program, makes it an invaluable partner for Grubhub,” said Dave Tovar, senior vice president of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “Throughout the U.S., there are more than 50,000 Mexican restaurants alone that serve all types of Americans. As these restaurants rebuild and expand their kitchens and staff, we’re happy to be a part of their growth and success.”

Since 2017, the number of Hispanic-owned businesses has grown 3%, where Hispanic-owned businesses now make up almost 6% of all businesses. Today, the U.S. Hispanic population has a buying power of $1.9 trillion, nationwide, representing a key demographic in the country’s economy.

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USHCC Logo

About USHCC

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of five million Hispanic-owned businesses that, combined, contribute over $800 billion to the American economy every year. The USHCC is America’s largest small business advocacy group, representing more than 260 local chambers and business associations nationwide, and partners with hundreds of major American corporations. For more information, please visit ushcc.com. Follow USHCC on Twitter @USHCC.

View List of Grant Recipients

Grubhub’s ‘Serving the City’ Will Offer More Than 25,000 Meals to Communities in Need Across NYC

Bringing together local leaders, independent restaurants and community organizations, new program addresses recent surge in food insecurity

NEW YORK — Continued fallout from the pandemic and the rise in grocery prices due to inflation means more New Yorkers are facing food insecurity, and Grubhub’s Serving the City is partnering with members of the New York City Council to help address the need. Launching tomorrow, the program will run for at least 16 weeks and expects to deliver 25,000 meals to communities in need across each of the City Council’s 51 districts.

“Grubhub launched Serving the City to help address the surge in food insecurity which is up 36% citywide—and 46% among children,” said Adam DeWitt, Grubhub CEO. “And as with every community-first initiative, locking arms with local leaders helps ensure we maximize our impact by focusing on those who need it most. We’re off to an amazing start, and we can’t wait to roll this program out across the entire city as soon as possible.”

Tomorrow, at an event with Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28), Serving the City will bring 500 meals from Unique Eats to two senior residences: Calvary Baptist Senior Housing (CALBAC) and Northeastern Towers Annex. 

“Food insecurity remains a challenge for many New Yorkers, including residents who live in District 28,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Small businesses and restaurants are also struggling to recover from the pandemic, and need support from community partners. Grubhub’s new Serving the City initiative will bring together elected officials, local eateries, and residents to deliver meals to those who need it most. I thank Grubhub, Unique Eats, Calvary Baptist Senior Housing, Northeastern Towers Annex, and other partners throughout New York City for being part of this new innovative program.”

Last month, Grubhub kicked off a pilot of the program with Council Member Julie Menin (District 5), purchasing 500 meals from family-owned restaurant Mansion Diner and distributing them to area residents at The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center. Additionally, in coordination with Council Member Majorie Velazquez (District 13), Grubhub purchased 500 meals from Havana Cafe that were distributed at the Throggs Neck Community Alliance. 

“Grubhub’s Serving the City initiative is an excellent partnership between community leaders, small businesses and an online food ordering company,” said Council Member Julie Menin, Chair of the City Council Small Business Committee. “By partnering with our local restaurants, GrubHub is truly committing dedicated resources to combating hunger in New York City.”

Photo of New York City Council Member Julie Menin (District 5) distributes meals at The Stanley M. Isaacs Center on May 25, 2022.
New York City Council Member Julie Menin (District 5) distributes meals at The Stanley M. Isaacs Center on May 25, 2022.

Over the next three months, Grubhub’s Serving the City will work with Council Members to help identify locations for meal distribution including housing authorities, senior centers and community organizations in their district. Local, independent restaurants will provide more than 500 meals at one or more distribution events per district. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent rise in grocery prices have increased food insecurity across the nation, impacting nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers, including one in four children. 

“The Isaacs Center is proud to partner with Grubhub, Council Member Julie Menin and the Mansion Diner in taking one more step towards eliminating hunger and food security in our community,” said Roderick L. Jones, president of the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center.

Serving the City is the latest effort from Grubhub to help close the hunger gap. The company is a leading supporter of the Food Donation Improvement Act, which encourages companies to donate surplus food and grocery products to nonprofits by providing civil and criminal liability protection to food donors and food recovery organizations. Grubhub also partners with organizations fighting food insecurity, including Food Bank for NYC, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, a food rescue non-profit headquartered in New York City that purchases meals from minority and women-owned restaurants that are donated back into the community to food insecure families. Grubhub Community Fund grants to these and other related organizations totaled more than $2 million in 2021.

For more information about Grubhub’s Community Impact programs, visit https://about.grubhub.com/community/programs/.

Supporting Voices

“Grubhub’s Serving The City is taking bold initiative in combating the food insecurity that has been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. “I was thrilled to partner with them and local restaurant Havana Café to provide meals and produce at Throggs Neck Community Alliance.”

“We were so excited to partner with Grubhub’s Serving the City program, along with Council Member Marjorie Velazquez, to provide nutritious and delicious meals from a local favorite restaurant, Havana Cafe,” said Angela Torres, director of Throggs Neck Community Alliance. “The pandemic and current inflation conditions have further weighed upon our community in the Bronx, but these meals were a welcome treat that brought nutrition and hope into the lives of our residents. On behalf of Throggs Neck Community Alliance, we extend our gratitude and cannot wait to see this project continue to make a profound impact.”

“Food insecurity is something that quite frankly is unacceptable in a city and, for that matter, a country like ours,” said John Phillips, 3rd generation owner of The Mansion Diner. “Millions of pounds of food are thrown in the garbage every single year, which is why we jumped at the chance to partner with NYC’s largest food delivery service to give back to the community which supports us all.”

“Upon opening Unique Eats NYC, it has been my mission to provide healthier, more diverse food options for the community,” said Chef Uniqua Grant, owner of Unique Eats NYC. “We pride ourselves on serving fresh, locally-sourced products which are always made to order! It’s an honor to Serve The City.”

Grubhub Debuts MasterChef Table, Delivering Dishes from MASTERCHEF Alumni Directly to Diners’ Homes Across the U.S.

First-of-Its-Kind Virtual Restaurant Delivers Gourmet American Comfort Food Developed by Winning Chefs from FOX’s Hit Cooking Show, MasterChef

CHICAGO, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Grubhub is launching MasterChef Table, a delivery-only virtual restaurant featuring recipes from MasterChef winners and fan favorites Kelsey Murphy, Dorian Hunter, Gerron Hurt, and Michael Silverstein. For 12 exciting seasons, Endemol Shine North America has produced MasterChef and captured America’s attention by celebrating the best in culinary creations and now diners will have a chance to not only watch the series on Wednesday nights (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, but also taste food from their favorite chef contestants, exclusively through Grubhub.

Available in more than 20 markets across the U.S., MasterChef Table features 11 gourmet dishes that embody American comfort foods expertly crafted by season 11 winner Kelsey Murphy, season 10 winner Dorian Hunter, season 9 winner Gerron Hurt and season 10 fan-favorite winner, Michael Silverstein. Fans and diners can enjoy dishes like the Spicy Maple Bacon Fried Chicken Sandwich and Nashville Hot Shrimp Tacos in areas including Alexandria, VA, Boston, MA, Bridgeport, CT, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, North Hollywood, CA, Washington, D.C., and more.

“The dishes we create on ‘MasterChef’ are enjoyed by a few legendary judges, but as a chef, I always want as many people as possible to experience my culinary creations,” said Kelsey Murphy, winner of MasterChef Season 11. “With MasterChef Table, Grubhub is giving me and a few of my favorite Chefs the special opportunity to share our unique twists on comfort foods with fans and diners all over the country.”

“We’re always looking for ways to deliver new experiences to diners. Our partnership with MasterChef gives them exactly that, a seat at the table in the comfort of their home,” said Marnie Boyer, vice president of restaurant acquisition at Grubhub. “The MasterChef Table virtual restaurant adds more delectable food options to Grubhub’s extensive lineup of eateries and provides an additional revenue stream to our restaurant partners.”

The MasterChef Table menu is complete with appetizers, sides, and main courses from specific MasterChef alumni:

  • Kelsey Murphy: Spicy Maple Bacon Fried Chicken Sandwich; Skewered Shrimp Elotes
  • Dorian Hunter: Down South Quesadilla; Bangin Buffalo Chicken Fries; Italian Hoagie Burger (The Dorian Burger)
  • Gerron Hurt: Southern Horsey Slaw; Nashville Hot Mac n’ Cheese; Nashville Hot Shrimp Tacos
  • Michael Silverstein: Loaded Blue Cheese Lovers’ Steakhouse Wedge; Queso-Smothered Texas Fajitas; Triple-Stacked Smash Burger

“We’re thrilled that for the first time, through this ground-breaking partnership with Grubhub, MasterChef fans will now have the opportunity to order menu items created by their favorite MasterChef contestants and winners via the Grubhub app,” says Tamaya Petteway, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Digital, Endemol Shine North America. “And we’re also truly excited that through MasterChef Table, MasterChef will be introduced to Grubhub’s active database of ‘foodies’ and consumers who enjoy having new food experiences while dining at home.”

“Across Fox Entertainment, we take pride in creating impactful, relevant, and highly customized opportunities that enable our partners to authentically reach the audiences they most value,” said Suzanne Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Ad Sales, FOX Entertainment. “As we are launching season 12 of MasterChef cannot think of a better partner than Grubhub to deliver delicious dishes from previous winners.”

Later this season on MasterChef, chefs will be given a Grubhub-themed Mystery Box challenge, where contestants must create a gourmet version of the most popular dishes on the online food delivery marketplace.

For more information about MasterChef Table, including the menu, the chefs behind the menu, and if MasterChef Table is currently available in your neighborhood, visit grubhub.com/mastercheftable.

To celebrate MasterChef Table, Grubhub is launching a sweepstakes, giving a few lucky diners an exclusive at-home experience, including a one-of-a-kind MasterChef-themed table, fully-serviced maître d’, and a plethora of dishes from MasterChef Table to enjoy. Qualified applicants can enter the sweepstakes by placing an eligible order on MasterChef Table and using code “TABLE” at checkout. For more details, please visit https://lp.grubhub.com/masterchef-table-sweepstakes/.

Diners across the country can enjoy a premium MasterChef Table meal at home while watching the newest season of MasterChef, airing Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. As always, the  Grubhub Guarantee  ensures meals are delivered on time, at the lowest price, or Grubhub will make it right.

About Grubhub 
Grubhub is part of  Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

About Endemol Shine North America
Endemol Shine North America delivers world-class content and compelling storytelling to multiple platforms in the U.S. and across the globe.

A division of Banijay, the world’s largest international content producer and distributor, subsidiary production companies in the U.S. include Authentic Entertainment, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Bunim/Murray Productions, and Stephen David Entertainment. Its Endemol Shine Latino division oversees all original Spanish and Portuguese-language operations across Latin America, including Endemol Shine Brasil, Mexico City-based Endemol Shine Boomdog and Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic.

Endemol Shine North America is behind such hit series as “Big Brother” (CBS), “MasterChef” (FOX), “MasterChef Junior” (FOX), “Wipeout” (TBS), “LEGO Masters” (FOX), “The Courtship” (USA/Peacock), “Foodtastic” (Disney+), “Married to Real Estate” (HGTV), “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo), “The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo), “Below Deck” (Bravo), “Below Deck Mediterranean” (Bravo), “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” (Bravo), “Below Deck Down Under” (Peacock), “Swamp People” (History), “The Challenge” (MTV, Paramount+, CBS) and the upcoming launches of “The Surreal Life” (VH1), “The Real Housewives of Dubai” (Bravo) and “Ripley” (Showtime).

About FOX Entertainment
FOX Entertainment’s 30-year legacy of innovative, hit programming includes 9-1-1, 9-1-1: LONE STAR, THE MASKED SINGER, THE CLEANING LADY, NEXT LEVEL CHEF, LEGO MASTERS, THE SIMPSONS, “Empire,” “24,” “The X-Files” and “American Idol.” In addition to delivering high-quality scripted, non-scripted, animation, live content and major sports for the broadcast network, FOX Entertainment oversees the operations of FOX Alternative Entertainment, its in-house unscripted studio that produces THE MASKED SINGER, I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE and NAME THAT TUNE, among other series; the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment, which produces animated content for FOX, including the Emmy Award-winning hit BOB’S BURGERS and new series DUNCANVILLE, THE GREAT NORTH and HOUSEBROKEN, as well as programming for other broadcast, streaming and cable platforms; and Blockchain Creative Labs, a Web3 studio formed in 2021 by FOX Entertainment and Bento Box, to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) content and experiences, and fungible tokens, as well as digital goods and assets.

FOX Entertainment also recently formed the production venture Studio Ramsay Global, in partnership with award-winning chef, restaurateur and presenter Gordon Ramsay, to develop, produce and distribute culinary and lifestyle programming for FOX such as NEXT LEVEL CHEF, its fast-growing ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) service, Tubi and platforms worldwide. Tubi features more than 40,000 movies and television series, and news content that’s available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australia. FOX Entertainment also acquired the entertainment platform TMZ and all its media properties, including its hit syndicated magazine programs, TMZ and TMZ LIVE, and its flagship digital platform, TMZ.com. Most recently, FOX Entertainment acquired MarVista Entertainment, a global leader in made-for-platform original content. Ranking among the world’s leading independent studios, MarVista will focus on developing and producing content for FOX’s digital platforms, including Tubi, as well as for third-party platforms worldwide.