At the Tour Championship, Mastercard and Capital One Business partnered to bring Foodies & Fairways™ to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, a program that gives two local food businesses an opportunity to showcase and sell their signature dishes to fans at golf tournaments across the country.
Mastercard and Capital One Business’ support for Kayla’s Italian Ice and Local Green takes on added significance given their proximity to the golf course as Atlanta-based businesses.
Foodies & Fairways™ not only showcases the commitments of Mastercard and Capital One Business to local entrepreneurship but also emphasizes their dedication to promoting community engagement.
Kayla’s Italian Ice is comprised of a mother-daughter duo, Theresa and Kayla, who wanted to bring a New York summer treat to Georgia. With Kayla being only 15, she provides youthful ideas to such a structured business plan.
“At first, no one really took me seriously,” she said. “My biggest achievement has been growing our clientele, getting out of a pushcart and opening a food truck.”
Their flavors are made from fresh local ingredients and their truck now serves the community, business events, parties and more. They hope to start franchising their business around the country.
Local Green was formed with the intention to bring healthier options to a community where Southern soul, comfort and fried foods are popular. The owner, Zak Wallace, once weighed more than 300 pounds and knew he needed to make a lifestyle change to preserve his health.
“I was trapped in the world between fast food, fried food, processed foods and I realized I’m addicted to this kind of flavor,” Zak said. “I wanted to make the focus more about nutrition and bring that into the conversation from somebody that’s from the community.”
Local Green started as a food truck and now serves as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Atlanta as well as a food truck at Walt Disney Resorts providing flavorful cuisine to minority-dominated areas.
By awarding each of these businesses a grant of $10,000 and Mastercard digital tools and resources, as well as providing personalized business coaching with Ginger Siegel, Mastercard’s North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard is going beyond financial assistance to offer valuable guidance and expertise.
These resources are likely to enable Kayla’s Italian Ice and Local Green to strengthen their operations.
“Now we can get some automatic fillers that would really help our production, as well as build out our trucks, get more brand awareness and participate in more events like this,” Theresa said.
Mastercard and Capital One Business have built out both shops on the grounds of the Tour Championship, which presents a unique opportunity for these businesses to connect with a broad range of attendees, fostering networking, exposure, and potential sales.
“There are probably not a lot of people in the golf world who are familiar with Local Green, but there are a lot of people in the sport that do want options that are both healthier and flavorful,” Zak said. “I think once people find out about us, they’re hooked.”
By participating in the event and selling their offerings on-site, Kayla’s Italian Ice and Local Green stand to benefit from increased visibility and revenue, all while contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the tournament.
As a result of Mastercard and Capital One Business’ collaboration, the positive effects of this partnership are likely to extend well beyond the duration of the tournament. The grants, digital tools, coaching and exposure received by these businesses can serve as catalysts for growth and long-term success.
“I really want to know how we can direct ourselves into retail and how we can better guide our franchisees as they come along for a business that we’ve built,” Theresa said. “That’s part of giving back to the community: providing jobs, entrepreneurship and training based on the skills that we’ve learned.”