A new vegan grocery store is coming to a city near you!

According to Black Business, Vegan Fine Foods is not only an all-vegan grocery store, but it’s Black-owned and located in Fort Lauderdale, FL with intentions of opening locations in major cities across the United States by 2024.

“I spent years living in food deserts with little to no accessibility to nutrient-dense foods and I see how damaging that can be for underserved communities,” Vegan Fine Foods founder Steven Smith told VegNews.

It was this very experience that encouraged him to launch the vegan company in 2016 just after his departure from an engineering career at PepsiCo. and Proctor & Gamble.

Today he aims to provide a one-stop-shop for all things vegan and plant-based, expanding his grocery chain by opening both company-owned locations and franchises.

Black Business reports after raising over $1.4 million in 2019 for developments, new equipment, and the implementation of a new point-of-sale and inventory management system, Vegan Fine Foods has managed to not only hire key staff but also create an e-commerce platform that has yet to launch.

“I’m competitive and driven and my extensive business background has given me the tools and connections to see this through,” Smith said, according to Black Business. “My commitment to increasing access to quality plant-based products for everyone deepens my conviction.”

Steven Smith

Sign up for our daily Newsletter.