Hope & Main’s Newest Initiative Gets Rhode Island Restaurant Favorites Into Local Grocery Stores
GoLocalProv Business Team
Hope & Main’s Newest Initiative Gets Rhode Island Restaurant Favorites Into Local Grocery Stores
“With the help of community partners and industry experts, dozens of Rhode Island restaurants are now producing retail products that are available for sale at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace and other local fine grocers, specialty food stores, farmers markets, online stores, and more,” says Hope and Main.
Local products being sold at stores starting this week include Aunt Carrie’s original clam cake + fritter mix; the Black Pearl’s clam chowder; Quito’s marinara and zuppa, Ellie’s bake-at-home cinnamon buns, and more.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThis Dish-Up RI project was made possible through a Federal CARES Act grant from Rhode Island Commerce which "enables local restaurants to provide consumers with a new way to experience their food and to pivot into new lines of business as the culinary landscape evolves,” says Hope & Main.
“The ‘resto-preneurs’ (i.e. chefs and owners of local eateries) participating in this initiative have access to an outstanding team of locally-based experts, including our in-house staff, who provide the comprehensive technical and business assistance required to bring a new product to market,” they added.
Products are made either in the restaurant or at Hope & Main’s Warren-based culinary facility.
Kick-Off This Friday
The in-store celebration starts at 10 AM.
According to Hope & Main founder Lisa Raiola, the thirteen local products are just the start — there are two dozen more Rhode Island restaurant products due to hit store shelves soon.
Hope & Main's Impact
As GoLocal reported in the fall of 2020, "The Next Big Thing in RI Economy May Be Emerging Startup Food Companies:"
The coronavirus pandemic has been cruel to many Rhode Island businesses both large and small, but in a twist of fate and opportunity, one sector is trying to fill the void and meet the demands of consumers' behavior.
The emerging potential success stories are the dozens of early-stage food producers — many of which operate in or track their genesis to an old former school building in Warren — the food incubator Hope & Main.
The impact of the startup Hope & Main is that it has been the hub of innovation as the springboard for dozens of local companies.
“This is our moment,” says Raiola.