Frequently asked
questions.

Black Cupboard is a discovery platform celebrating food and beverage brands founded and owned by entrepreneurs of African descent. We connect consumers with Black-owned grocery products, share the stories behind the brands, and encourage economic support for the businesses bringing them to market.

No. Black Cupboard is a discovery platform, not a grocery store. We help you find products and connect you with the brands or retailers where they're sold. Purchases are completed directly through those businesses.

Our separate Black Cupboard Gift Store will offer exclusive merchandise and curated collections when available.

A company must have been founded or co-founded by an entrepreneur of African descent, remain at least 50% collectively Black-owned, be Black-operated and Black-controlled, be actively operating, and have products accessible to consumers.

We evaluate eligibility using credible company statements, independent documentation, and direct ownership knowledge.

No. Basic directory inclusion is free. Qualifying businesses are featured based on eligibility, not advertising payments.

We are also preparing optional paid advertising and promotional opportunities, which will be identified as sponsored content.

Not necessarily. Our directory includes products we discover through research and recommendations. An appearance in Black Cupboard is not automatically a personal endorsement or independent product review.

When we publish a review, we distinguish editorial opinions from sponsored content.

Select the product's purchasing link to visit the brand's website or an authorized retailer. Complete your purchase directly with that seller.

The business where you completed your purchase handles payment, shipping, returns, refunds, and customer service. Black Cupboard does not manage transactions for products purchased through external retailers.

My Shopping List is a free member feature that allows you to save products you'd like to purchase, organize them in one place, and access their purchasing links whenever you're ready.

It's a personal shopping list, not a shopping cart.

You can mark items as Purchased. They'll move from your active Shopping List to your private Purchased / Buy Again history, where you can find them again.

Black Cupboard generally cannot confirm purchases made on external websites, so you control which items are marked as purchased.

Yes. Spread the Support lets members share individual products, selected items, or a collection from their Shopping List.

Recipients can explore shared recommendations without creating an account.

Yes. Creating a free account allows you to save and access your Shopping List across devices. You can browse the Cupboard and visit brands without registering.

Yes. Membership is free and provides access to personal features such as My Shopping List, Purchased / Buy Again history, and sharing tools.

The Weekly Cupboard is our upcoming newsletter featuring new Black-owned food and beverage discoveries, recipes, stories, and occasional special offers.

Each issue will bring together highlights from Fresh on the Shelf, From the Cupboard, The Mouthful, and On the Sale Shelf when promotions are available.

No. You can subscribe to The Weekly Cupboard without creating a website account.

When newsletter delivery begins, use the unsubscribe link included in our newsletter emails. You can also manage your newsletter preferences through the available subscription settings.

Members may opt into Shopping List email reminders when that feature is available. Reminders are optional and can be managed or disabled through account preferences.

We use account information to operate member features, manage subscriptions, improve the website, and understand how visitors interact with Black Cupboard.

We do not sell individual Shopping List histories to advertisers. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

Use our Submit Your Brand form to tell us about your company, ownership, products, and where consumers can find them.

Submitting a brand does not guarantee inclusion.

Absolutely. We welcome recommendations for qualifying Black-owned food and beverage businesses. Use our brand recommendation or contact form to share your discovery.

Yes. Businesses can inquire about sponsored website placements, newsletter advertising, social media promotions, sponsored recipes, and coordinated campaigns through our Partner With Black Cupboard page.

Advertising proposals are reviewed individually. Paid advertising does not automatically qualify a company for inclusion in our directory or override our editorial standards.

Yes. Qualifying businesses can submit current sales, promotional codes, and seasonal offers for consideration in On the Sale Shelf.

All promotions are subject to review before appearing on the website.

Contact Black Cupboard through the website's correction or contact form, identifying the company and information that needs updating. We review factual corrections and ownership changes.

The Mouthful is Black Cupboard's editorial section, exploring food culture, entrepreneurship, the people behind Black-owned brands, and the issues affecting their growth and success.

From the Cupboard is our recipe collection, featuring dishes incorporating products from Black-owned food and beverage brands.

Fresh on the Shelf introduces a featured brand or product, helping visitors discover something new and learn the story behind it.

The Missing Shelf is currently unpublished. It is our historical and educational collection recognizing Black-founded food and beverage businesses that have closed, discontinued products, or experienced significant ownership changes.

It also examines the challenges of building and sustaining businesses and the importance of supporting their long-term growth.

Consistent customer support helps emerging businesses build demand, expand distribution, create employment opportunities, and pursue long-term growth.

Choosing these products when you're able can help strengthen the businesses and communities behind them.

The Gift Store is an upcoming curated destination for exclusive Black Cupboard merchandise, artist-designed kitchen and tableware collections, and special gift offerings.

Black Cupboard Table is our upcoming collection of artist-designed tableware, serving pieces, and kitchen accessories, with an emphasis on original design and limited-edition releases.

Details about purchasing, fulfillment, shipping, and returns will be provided with each collection when sales become available. Terms may differ depending on the product and fulfillment arrangement.