# Black-Owned Restaurant Initiatives Pepsi Dig In Brings Back Its Restaurant Royalty Program By Kalin Ned | Published 2024-06-03 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackowned-restaurant References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pepsi-dig-in-taps-slutty-vegans-pinky-cole-hayes-as-ambassador-to-uncover-the-nations-best-black-owned-restaurants-and-reward-diners-for-nominating-their-favorite-302158845.html)  [Pepsi Dig In](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegas-restaurant) has announced the return of its Restaurant Royalty program in order to highlight and reward Black-owned restaurants. This year, Pinky Cole Hayes, founder of the plant-based chain [Slutty Vegan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-qsr-expansion), serves as the program's ambassador. The initiative invites food enthusiasts to nominate their favorite Black-owned restaurants until June 30th. Nominations can be submitted through DigInShowLove.com and there are prizes as incentives for participation — from winning a trip to the 2025 football championship game in New Orleans or a chef's table experience in New York City to curated food tours and travel certificates. The top-nominated restaurant will be featured at [MGM Resorts International](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drink-las-vegas) in Las Vegas and will receive mentoring from Hayes, along with business resources such as point-of-sale hardware from Square, digital media credits, and support from EatOkra and Pepsi Dig In. Image Credit: Pepsi Dig In ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 39% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 24% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Black-owned Restaurant Featuring:** There is renewed focus on elevating Black-owned restaurants through dedicated programs and media attention. - **Celebrity-led Initiatives:** Ambassadors like Pinky Cole Hayes play a pivotal role in inspiring and lending credibility to large-scale community initiatives. - **Incentivized Participation:** Invitation for public nominations with attractive prizes enhances community engagement and visibility for restaurant programs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage:** Black-owned restaurant initiatives present significant opportunities for diverse culinary experiences and market expansion. - **Digital Media:** Collaborations with platforms like EatOkra highlight the growing role of digital media in promoting underrepresented businesses. - **Travel and Hospitality:** Curated food tours and destination experiences create unique avenues for integrating gastronomy with travel. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Black-Owned Restaurant Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pepsi-dig-in-day.md) - [Uplifting Restaurant Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pepsi-dig-in.md) - [Vegas Restaurant Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegas-restaurant.md) - [Celebratory Soda Diners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-125-pepsi-diner.md) - [Vegan QSR Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-qsr-expansion.md) - [College-Targeted Awareness Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taste-of-tomorrow.md) - [Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-bowl-lix.md) - [BIPOC Culinary Grants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-opportunity-fund.md) - [Hispanic-Focused Business Opportunities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/greenhouse-accelerator-program.md)