Queens FEASTS
Success Stories & Press
Success Stories
Suin Park – Forward Roots
As a former co-owner in food retail, Suin came to Queens FEASTS with knowledge in business but needed to understand the process of creating her own unique products. Her company, Forward Roots, is a new start-up food company, making and selling premium healthy ethnic sauces. Through the program, Suin was able to draft her business plan, identify the appropriate licenses and permits for food manufacturing, and begin the process of producing her sauces. Since graduating, Suin has begun production on her two kimchi-based launch product sauces. Follow Suin and Forward Roots here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/forwardroots/posts/?ref=page_internal
Tavia Kowalchuk – Bliss Street Creamery
Tavia Kowalchuk has always had a passion for artisanal ice cream, which is why she founded Bliss Street Creamery. Tavia was able to use her professional experience in marketing and the business planning, finance, and legal knowledge she gained through QueensFEASTS to make her ice cream business a reality. Tavia gained crucial legal and financial knowledge, as well as received assistance in finding an appropriate space to make her small batch ice cream - which is difficult without owning a storefront in NYC. Since going through the program, Bliss Street Creamery has been featured at Taste of Sunnyside, the 17th Annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Concert, and the Queens International Night Market. You can find Tavia and Bliss Street Creamery in two DNAinfo articles, “Dress Like a Flapper and Eat Free Ice Cream at Sunnyside's Jazz Fest” and “Small-Batch Ice Cream Maker to Debut at Annual Sunnyside Food Fest.” Tavia’s unique flavors such as You Can Call Me Babs and Pink Peppercorn along with her drive and passion for representing her neighborhood of Sunnyside has led to early success and we look forward to watching it grow! Tavia has even returned to class to speak as an expert in marketing and to support other students going through the program. Find out more about Bliss Street Creamery here: http://blissstreetcreamery.com
Mahfuzul Islam and Alvi Zaman– Jhal NYC
Jhal NYC was started with the mission of promoting Bangladeshi culture through street foods and helping immigrants acclimate to life in the United States. The company began when owner Mahfuzul Islam and his cousin Alvi Zaman began making Bangladeshi food with their aunts and assisting them with life skills for living in NY. They began expanding their network and teaching friends and friends of friends about Bangladeshi culture. Through FEASTS, Jhal NYC gained the business mindset and structure they needed to begin scaling their business. Today, Jhal NYC is growing fast serving at markets and events, and releasing merchandise to promote their business. Find out more on their website: http://jhalnyc.com, on Facebook at @officialjhalnyc, and on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter @jhalnyc. Their successes include completing a draft business plan, acquiring a food handler’s certificate, registering their company, acquiring EIN, sales tax authority, and TSFE permit, beginning marketing, and acquiring general liability insurance. They’ve also operated at Queens Night Market, served at the Museum of Food & Drink, and released merchandise at MOFAD to promote the business. They were even featured in a NY Times article.
Press Mentions of Queens Feasts Graduates
Press Coverage of Queens Feasts
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