African-American Church Outreach Program

For decades the African-American church has been a place of influence; serving as an agent for positive change in both moral and civil respects. The church has also served as a gathering place for African-Americans where good family fun and great food are always in abundant supply, making it a natural place to find TABASCO^® brand products.

Since June 2005, McIlhenny Company has been committed to blending its rich history with the rich culture of the African-American church community by creating the TABASCO^® African-American Church Outreach Program. TABASCO^® has since formed lasting partnerships with Louisiana churches in the New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge areas.

The program has come to life through TABASCO^®-sponsored food events at the African-American church partners and reaches well over 10,000 congregants each year. TABASCO^® brand Pepper Sauce products are used to spice up church anniversary receptions, couples' dinners, debutante brunches, and health ministry food events.

The African-American Church Outreach Program gives TABASCO^® the opportunity to develop a brand preference for its products among the black church community, and at the same time, McIlhenny Company can help support the efforts of the churches as they touch lives throughout their respective communities.

To date, seven churches in Louisiana are active partners in the African-American Church Outreach Program, most of which participated in a special recipe contest in 2006. From this effort, TABASCO^® developed its first ever African-American recipe cookbook entitled, Flavor of the Family Cookbook: Generations of Authentic Recipes from Louisiana’s African-American Church Community. Copies of the cookbooks were donated to each participating church and then used as fundraising tools within each church community.

In the future, TABASCO^® intends to maintain its commitment to its partner churches and to continually grow the list of church communities throughout the years, adding its own spice to the flavor of the African-American church community for years to come.