Six years in, the initiative saw its most competitive applicant pool to date as Famous Amos continues commitment to supporting Black-owned small businesses

CHICAGO, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ferrero North America, in partnership with U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), today announced the winners of the annual Famous Amos Ingredients for Success (IFS) Entrepreneurs Initiative. Now in its sixth year, the program will award $150,000 in capital – $50,000 each to three early-stage Black business owners – alongside access to mentorship, networking opportunities and educational resources designed to fuel long-term growth.

The 2026 IFS winners include:

• The Brunch Munch, a St. Petersburg-based food truck founded by Ashley Reed that uses food as a vehicle for community connection while supporting the preservation of culturally significant spaces.
• Maison Black, a New York City-based fashion platform founded by Tori Nichel that amplifies Black designers through curated retail experiences and increased market visibility, helping connect consumers with Black-owned fashion brands.
• The Marriage Pinnacle, a Maryland-based relationship support platform co-founded by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lara and relationship coach Memi that blends clinical and cultural expertise to help Black couples strengthen relationships and build lasting family foundations.

The announcement arrives at a pivotal moment for Black entrepreneurship. A growing wave of retirements is reshaping the business landscape, and as owners step away, new opportunities for entrepreneurs are emerging. According to Project Equity, more than half of privately held U.S. businesses with employees are owned by individuals over age 55, and most lack a formal succession plan. As these transitions accelerate, programs like Ingredients for Success help equip the next generation of entrepreneurs with the capital and resources they need to build lasting businesses.

“Six years in, Ingredients for Success remains one of the most meaningful ways we show up as a brand,” said Keith Peterfeso, Vice President of Marketing for Famous Amos. “We’re proud to back founders at a critical stage of growth and carry forward what Wally Amos understood: that support at the right moment can make a big difference. These founders are building innovative businesses that are creating an impact in their communities, and we’re excited to be a part of their journey.”

This year, IFS received 2,800 applications, its largest applicant pool to date and more than double the number of 2025 applications, underscoring the program’s growing impact and continued resonance with early-stage Black entrepreneurs. A distinguished panel of judges, each with firsthand experience building and sustaining a successful business, reviewed applications and selected this year’s winners. The 2026 panel included “Rev” Shawn Amos – entrepreneur, author and son of the late Famous Amos founder Wally Amos; Steve Canal, founder of ONE Venture Group, best-selling author and branding expert; and inaugural IFS winners Tracy Vontelle Green and Nancey Flowers-Harris, CEO and COO of Vontelle Eyewear.

This announcement comes on the heels of Famously You, a new family-friendly variety series presented by Famous Amos, hosted by “Rev” Shawn Amos and executive produced by Gabrielle Union. Now streaming on The Roku Channel, the series celebrates the courage it takes to be unmistakably yourself.

Among season one guests is Lizz Rene, founder and CEO of PO’ UP! Card Game and 2024 IFS winner, whose appearance on the show brings the connection between the two programs full circle. Together, Famously You and Ingredients for Success reflect the same belief that drove Wally Amos: that every person has something special to offer the world.

“Famously You is about celebrating people who bet on themselves – those who show up with a gift and the courage to share it,” said “Rev” Shawn Amos. “That’s the spirit my dad built Famous Amos on, backed by an investment from friends who believed in him. Ingredients for Success carries that forward by giving today’s founders the tools they need to turn that belief into something real.”

With the addition of the 2026 winners, Ingredients for Success has supported 18 businesses with $900,000 in funding since its debut in 2020, opening doors for a new generation of Black entrepreneurs. To learn more about IFS alumni and their journeys, visit FamousAmosIngredientsforSuccess.com/IFSWinners.

Stay tuned to Famous Amos’s social channels for the latest brand news and Ingredients for Success updates: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and Threads.

About Famous Amos®
Famous Amos is a beloved brand that started in 1975, famous for its classic, bite-size chocolate chip cookies. Founded by Wally Amos, a passionate Black entrepreneur, Famous Amos grew from a bakery in Hollywood, California into a brand serving millions of customers across the United States. In 2020, Famous Amos began a major philanthropic effort, the Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative. Now in its sixth year, this initiative supports economic empowerment and long-term success for early-stage Black entrepreneurs. To learn about the program, visit FamousAmosIngredientsforSuccess.com. Follow Famous Amos on socials: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and Threads.

About Ferrero®
Ferrero began in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella^®, Kinder^®, Tic Tac^®, and Ferrero Rocher^®. More than 47,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life’s special moments. The Ferrero Group’s family culture, now in its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate.

Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,400 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger^®, CRUNCH^®, Keebler^®, Famous Amos^®, Mother’s^® Cookies, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. For additional information, please visit FerreroNorthAmerica.com and stay connected with Ferrero on social (Instagram, X).

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SOURCE Ferrero North America