Plant City's Original Founder Faces New Allegations of Racism and Sexism in NYT Report
GoLocalProv News Team
Plant City's Original Founder Faces New Allegations of Racism and Sexism in NYT Report
Matt Kenney has previously been the subject of high-profile investigations by the Miami Herald and the Los Angeles Times. Those stories primarily focused on Kenney’s alleged financial malfeasance.
Kenney has been the face of the plant-based food industry and a key player in not only the creation of Plant City but also the related chain of stores called Plant City X.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Rhode Island-based restaurants are now owned solely by Kim Anderson. In January, after allegations of Kenney’s financial issues were unveiled, Anderson defended Kenney.
“He’s a brilliant chef and good man,” said Anderson in an email to GoLocal at the time.
Monday, the New York Times unveiled dozens of new charges against Kenney. The Times reported that it interviewed more than 60 individuals for its story.
The New York Times article is titled, "Behind a Vegan Chef’s Holistic Empire, an Ugly Reality — Matthew Kenney, one of the most famous names in plant-based cuisine, has left a trail of burned investors, bounced paychecks and graphic text messages."
In a text exchange by GoLocal with Anderson on Monday, she refused to condemn Kenney or address the allegations of racist comments and sexist actions.
A Harassing Work Environment
In the same lawsuit, the former executive, who is Black, also claimed that he was the target of harassment and discrimination because of a speech impediment and his race, including “being subjected to the use of the ‘N-Word,’” while employed at Mr. Kenney’s company, where “a harassing work environment permeated with racist terms for Asian business partners, and Jewish employees.”
Ultimately, the case was settled, and the former executive was awarded $80,000 and more than $20,000 in lawyers’ fees.
In dozens of text messages with Mr. Bronfeld viewed by The Times, Mr. Kenney regularly referred to employees and business associates in racist, misogynistic and profane terms. In one exchange from 2020, Mr. Kenney asked about the lawyer representing his own side of the harassment case, “Is she black?,” adding, “If she is I’ll kill you.” He went on to suggest that the lawyer was performing sex acts on the plaintiff, while mocking the plaintiff’s stutter.
In a 2022 text, he wrote, “All Latin men are crybabies,” adding, “Hate to be racist but it’s my experience.” In a 2018 exchange, he described South Asian business owners as “grocery store Indians.” In another, from 2021, he asked about the sex life of a female employee of color and criticized the personal hygiene of previous sexual partners in graphic terms. He added that another woman was attractive “until she turned 21.”
Mr. Kenney told The Times, “These words do not even sound as though they are written or spoken by me.”
The New York Times, also cited new allegations of financial issues. "The chef and his companies have been named in dozens of lawsuits in at least nine states, alleging a variety of misdeeds including illegal labor practices and stiffing creditors, landlords and employees. According to public records, Mr. Kenney owes $1.2 million in back taxes in New York State alone," reported the New York Times.
Kenney announced the launch of Plant City to GoLocal in 2019, saying, "I have been thinking about this since visiting food halls in Madrid ten or so years ago and love Eataly, they are great food experiences."
There was no mention of Kim Anderson in the Plant City launch.
Anderson in January of 2024 told GoLocal that she was the visionary behind Plant City and that Kenney played a minor role.
“It was my idea, my vision, my funding and he provided the original recipes, menus and concepts we needed and lived in order to launch. [Kenney’s] staff supported training for our opening. All new recipes since opening have come from our awesome Executive Chef, Luis Jaramillo. I am full owner of our 5 restaurants. I’m honored to have worked with him. He’s a brilliant chef and good man,” Anderson told GoLocal in January.
Anderson added, “Any thoughts about representing that Matthew, who really had nothing to do with the local operations of all the businesses he ‘partnered’ with, is responsible for those failures...it’s honestly just not true.”
“It is important to keep in mind that MKC [Matthew Kenney Cusine] was partners with many restauranteurs around the world who owned and managed their local operations and could not survive Covid, like many restaurants around the world that did not emerge from the ravages of COVID,” said Anderson.
But while Anderson downplays Kenney’s involvement. The story is ever changing.
After the initial PR for Plant City in Providence in 2019, the next flood of press hit when Anderson and Kenney launched Plant City X.
According to the PR for the launch of Plant City X, Kenney and Anderson were described as co-owners of the new model. The first of the new stores was located in Middletown at a former Papa Gino’s location.
There are now multiple locations of Plant City X — a second one in Warwick and a third at Bryant University.
Anderson told GoLocal that she now owns the Rhode Island locations alone but refused to answer any questions if she continues to have any business relationship with Kenney.
Through 2022, Plant City featured Kenney as the culinary force behind the business.
“Matthew Kenney is one of the world’s leading chefs at the forefront of plant-based cuisine with 28 restaurants spanning five continents. His unique approach combines impeccably sourced ingredients with innovative tools & techniques to create minimally processed, plant-based cuisine that is both refined and healthful,” according to Plant City's website.