Plant City’s Anderson Distances Herself From Vegan Food Guru Kenney
GoLocalProv Business Team and Josh Fenton
Plant City’s Anderson Distances Herself From Vegan Food Guru Kenney
Investigative stories in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times in recent months have brought to light a near-endless series of allegations about global plant-based food guru Kenney. In 2017, the Miami Herald wrote an investigative report regarding Kenney's financial issues.
In 2019, Kenney announced the opening of Plant City to GoLocal.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, more and more allegations are piling up.
The allegations range from financial malfeasance and tax issues to racism and sexism.
Anderson, who says she has owned Plant City solely for the past three years, told GoLocal in January after the Los Angeles Times story that she defended Kenney, saying, “He’s a brilliant chef and good man.”
The Los Angeles Times focused on Kenney’s financial and tax issues. Last week, the New York Times, which interviewed more than 60 people, unveiled allegations of racism and sexism.
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."
Anderson Says Nothing with Kenney Going Forward
On Sunday night, Anderson, in a series of text messages, said, "Of course, if these allegations are true, I condemn them. Completely. That’s what I mean when I say I abhor all speech or actions against anyone and would vigorously stand up against them.”
Plant City has been a much-welcomed addition to the Providence food scene.
Anderson added, “There are no agreements, and we will not be licensing anything going forward.”
Presently, Anderson owns and operates the Plant City located on South Water Street across from the Michael J. Van Lessten Bridge. She also operates a Plant City X in Warwick and has announced that the company will open another location in Barrington.
The Los Angeles Times story detailed the collapse of at least 12 of Kenney’s businesses, including allegations that he owes millions of dollars in rent and $1 million to a former investor. The New York Times reported he owes New York $1.2 million in back taxes alone.
In November of 2023, Kenney announced his plans to expand throughout China. According to Kenney, his restaurants — including Double Zero, Plant Food + Wine, Plant City, Besina, New Burger, and Make Out — "have transformed plant-based food and make a healthful, plant-centric lifestyle more accessible."
In a press release, Kenney's press team announced, "Replicating the success of Kenney's Plant City in Providence, RI – the largest plant-based food hall in the world (co-founded with Kim Anderson) – the entrepreneur will debut several plant-based food hall concepts across China, each of which will include 12-14 individual restaurants specializing in plant-based cuisine, as well as food and lifestyle retail. Individual concepts include VEG'D (plant-based fast food), Double Zero (wood-fired pizza), Ayre (ayurvedic cuisine), and more. Markets of focus include Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Macao, and Shenzhen. Jay Faires and his team at The Wellness Agency (TWA) are facilitating the expansion."
"I look forward to expanding Plant City across China," says chef Kenney. "Our goal is to provide a one-stop destination for plant-based eating that will be appreciated by vegans, omnivores and carnivores alike."
The announcement cited, "Matthew Kenney's A-list fans include Taylor Swift, Oprah, and James Cameron, who frequent Plant Food + Wine at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, as well as Jay-Z and Chris Martin, who often enjoy the plant-based pizza at Double Zero."
Efforts to reach Kenney were unsuccessful. His corporate website is down, and he did not respond to requests via social media.