Food Business Incubation Opportunities
Mandela’s Food Business Incubation opportunities provide low-risk entry points for aspiring food entrepreneurs to market test their menus and products, and access ongoing coaching and technical assistance support.
Mandela Produce Distribution
E14th Eatery + Kitchen
The E14th Eatery + Kitchen (formally the Ashland Market & Cafe) is a food business incubator and community kitchen, featuring unincorporated Alameda County entrepreneurs.
As part of a growing effort to support local entrepreneurship and build wealth in unincorporated Alameda County, Mandela Partners, the Alameda County Community Development Agency, and Resources for Community Development (RCD) came together to create a vibrant space for local limited-resource entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color looking to sell their products in a retail food environment.
Being at the E14th Eatery + Kitchen, our incubated vendors receive on-going business coaching, marketing promotions, and culinary development support.
Our current vendors:
YoYo Treats: Mexican street snacks & drinks
Our former vendors:
I Am Cafe: Community-centered cafe
Thank Que Grill: Filipino-Style BBQ
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Jacquelynn's Heart & Soul: Hearty Soul Food
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Andrea Marie Custom Cake & Treats: Sweet Pastries and Cakes
Tha MF'N Vegan: Nourishing Plant-Based Food
Zella's Soulful Kitchen
Zella's provides soul-food inspired, locally-sourced breakfast & lunch options. Zella's moved from West Oakland to their new spot inside Oak Harvest Kitchen in City Center of downtown Oakland.
Owned and operated by Dionne Knox, Zella's is a tribute to Dionne's grandmother, who taught her the value of a great meal and the way in which it can unify people.
In addition to being a stellar chef, Dionne is a local change-maker with a background in youth and community development. She is committed to good food & developing the skills of local residents - both professional and culinary. Get your next event catered by Zella's Soulful Kitchen!
Mandela Produce Distribution
Mandela Produce Distribution (MPD) was developed by Mandela Partners to support local, under-resourced farmers by establishing an alternative distribution network that passes on wholesale prices to community retailers and institutions.
60% of the produce purchased by Mandela Produce Distribution comes directly from local family farms that they have long-term working relationships. MPD partners with farmers who harvest using sustainable practices on farming lands in Hollister, Watsonville, Castroville, Dinuba, Capay Valley, and Sanger.
Mandela Produce Distribution is actively seeking new clients; if you're interested in supporting family farmers and sourcing sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, please contact MPD at: orders@mandeladistribution.com
"Best Practices in Developing A Successful Food-Based Entrepreneur Pipeline"
We developed this toolkit to show how we launched Ashland Market & Cafe (now E14th Eatery & Kitchen), and to provide a framework for practitioners seeking to develop a community food hall that prioritizes community members and local assets in concept development, recruitment, selection, and growth of food-oriented development projects.