What Soulcial Kitchen does

Soulcial Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise headquartered in Swansea, Illinois, founded in June 2021 by retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General John Michel and Holly Michel. The organization combines food insecurity remediation with culinary entrepreneurship development through two flagship programs: the Feed It Forward (Currency of Caring) tokenized giving program, which sells $8 tokens redeemable for hot meals at a network of 26-29+ partner restaurants and food trucks across multiple states, and America's first U.S. Department of Labor-certified Food Truck Apprenticeship Program, which has spawned at least seven graduate food trucks operating across the Metro East region and has been adopted nationally by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. As of February 2026, Soulcial Kitchen holds five DOL-registered apprenticeship credentials, the most recent being the Hospitality Leadership Development Program co-developed with Master Chef Lasse Sorensen.

The organization operates a 2.5-acre hospitality campus in Swansea featuring Marco's Express pizzeria, an outdoor food truck park with concert stage, craft bar, dog park, and commissary kitchen, with the Soulcial Kitchen Commons expansion opening April 2026. Distribution extends through partner locations in Alton (Flock Food Truck Park, including the Space Shuttle Cafe built into a WWII C-47 fuselage), Ferguson (The Garden at the former Corner Coffee House, in partnership with Civil Righteousness), and Collinsville (Herald Square, in partnership with Old Herald Brewery & Distillery). Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining token/donation revenue, food truck catering and event bookings, food truck park operations, and apprenticeship program funding from grants and federal workforce development programs.

In March 2024, Soulcial Kitchen merged with Food Is Love Productions Inc., an eight-time Emmy-nominated television production nonprofit whose Food Is Love show airs on PBS, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. The organization has received the 2025 American Express Community Champion Award, the 2024 Air Mobility Command Abilene Trophy (Scott AFB's fourth win), and has served 357,050+ free hot meals cumulatively across multiple states and Rwanda. It maintains partnerships with the U.S. Air Force (Scott AFB, Barksdale AFB), Feeding America, Veterans Community Project, Benedictine College, and AltonWorks, and operates a Food Hero LLC joint venture announced February 2026 to expand programs to Chicagoland.

Name

Soulcial Kitchen

Legal name

Soulcial Kitchen

Website

https://soulcialkitchen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Soulcial Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise operating America's first DOL-certified Food Truck Apprenticeship Program and the Currency of Caring token-based dignified dining program, headquartered in Swansea, Illinois, serving food-insecure populations and aspiring culinary entrepreneurs across the Metro East region and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise Food Services and Culinary Workforce Development

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Mobile Food Services (72233), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups) (THAFAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Trucks (Motorized) (THAFAHAA), Mobile Catering Trucks (On-Site Service) (THAFAHAJ), Food Truck & Mobile Catering Coordination (HSACAGAG)

Keywords

• Community food services
• Food truck catering
• Culinary apprenticeship training
• Food insecurity programs
• Mobile meal distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through donations to support the Currency of Caring token program and free meal distribution. Individuals can purchase $8 tokens that provide meals for those in need.
2. Food Truck Catering and Event Bookings: Soulcial Kitchen generates revenue through catering services and food truck bookings. The organization operates multiple food trucks including the Space Shuttle Cafe and coordinates with graduated entrepreneur food trucks for events.
3. Food Truck Park Operations: Revenue is generated from the Soulcial Kitchen campus food truck park which includes indoor restaurant (Marco's Express), outdoor food truck spaces, craft bar, dog park, and event venue hosting live music and private events.
4. Apprenticeship Program Funding: The Food Truck Apprenticeship Program is funded through grants, donations, and partnerships. The program trains aspiring entrepreneurs at no cost to participants, with funding coming from foundation support and federal workforce development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Soulcial Kitchen is a nonprofit social enterprise that runs a hospitality campus and mobile food distribution operation to address food insecurity and train food-truck entrepreneurs. Its primary paid/contracted offerings are the Feed It Forward (Currency of Caring) tokenized meal-giving program ($8 per token redeemable at partner restaurants for free hot meals), the Food Truck Apprenticeship Program (America's first DOL-certified culinary apprenticeship), event catering, food-truck bookings, and on-campus food, bar, commissary, and event-venue services. Apprentice-graduate food truck brands operate under the Soulcial Kitchen network across Missouri, Illinois, and beyond.

Product overview

Soulcial Kitchen is a social enterprise and hospitality innovation hub operating as a multi-product platform built around food security and culinary entrepreneurship. The core offerings center on the Feed It Forward (Currency of Caring) Program, a tokenized giving system enabling meal provision for food-insecure individuals, and the nationally recognized Food Truck Apprenticeship Program - America's first Department of Labor-certified program training entrepreneurs in mobile food operations. These programs are supported by the Spark Tank business skills development initiative and Love Thy Neighbor community meal distribution. The platform encompasses multiple food truck sub-brands (Soul-Full, Hope & Smoke, Man That's Good Mobile, Soulburger, Big Meechie's, Space Shuttle Cafe, That Black Coffee Truck, and others) spawned through the apprenticeship program, along with facilities including the 2.5-acre Swansea campus with restaurant, craft bar, food truck park, and commissary kitchen, and partner locations like The Garden in Ferguson and Crepes & Cones in Collinsville. The system delivers both direct community impact through meal distribution and economic development through food truck business incubation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soul-Full: Food truck brand operated by Dennis E. Rodgers, graduate of Food Truck Apprenticeship program
• Space Shuttle Cafe
• Soulburger
• Man That's Good Mobile
• Big Meechie's
• The Garden
• Crepes & Cones

Products and services

• Feed It Forward (Currency of Caring) Program A tokenized giving system where individuals purchase $8 tokens that provide a hot meal (entree, side, and drink) to food-insecure individuals at participating restaurants and food trucks without questions asked. Designed for donors, community supporters, and food-insecure recipients across multiple states and military bases.
• Food Truck Apprenticeship Program America's first U.S. Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship credential for food truck and mobile kitchen operations, providing real-world training and certification to aspiring culinary professionals, including at-risk youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. Now adopted nationally by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
• Hospitality Leadership Development Program Fifth U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship credential for Soulcial Kitchen — a three-level program co-developed with Master Chef Lasse Sorensen featuring 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning and 200 hours of technical instruction. Inaugural cohort launching Spring 2026 at Soulcial Kitchen Commons.
• Mobile Food Distribution and Community Meals Chef-driven mobile food trucks that deliver free hot meals directly to underserved communities and food deserts across the Metro East region and beyond. Includes the Love Thy Neighbor initiative, where local businesses sponsor Soulcial Kitchen food trucks to enter neighborhoods and serve 100 hot meals per visit.
• Event Catering and Food Truck Booking Catering and food truck booking services for private events, corporate functions, weddings, and community gatherings across the Metro East region, leveraging the Soulcial Kitchen network of graduate food truck businesses. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
• Soulcial Kitchen Hospitality Campus (Swansea, IL) A 2.5-acre hospitality campus at 127 North Belt East, Swansea, IL featuring Marco's Express pizzeria, an outdoor food truck park with concert stage, craft bar, dog park, commissary kitchen, and event venue. Operated as a food truck business incubator and community gathering hub.
• Spark Tank Business Skills Development Entrepreneurial development initiative providing business education, mentorship, and market access to aspiring food truck operators, including weekly sessions with Benedictine College professors covering entrepreneurial thinking, menu creation, supply sourcing, and food safety. Each cohort includes up to 28 entrepreneurs.
• Commissary Kitchen Rental at The Garden Commissary kitchen space at The Garden in Ferguson, MO available for rental at hourly, daily, and monthly rates for small food businesses and entrepreneurs needing licensed production space.

Quantifiable outcome

• 357,050+ free hot meals served across multiple states and Rwanda
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and minor.

• Metro East Community (Swansea, IL)coreOthers · 5 March 2026Soulcial Kitchen Commons opening April 2026 on 2.5-acre campus establishing Metro East's first food access, culinary training, and hospitality hub. Consolidates existing restaurant and mobile food truck operations with culinary leadership training center, food-as-medicine production kitchen, food truck commissary, and event venue.
• Food Hero LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Two-year partnership to bring Soulcial Kitchen's nationally recognized Food Truck Apprenticeship Program to Chicagoland, targeting Hispanic and African American communities. Includes adoption of Currency of Caring free meal distribution program to address Chicago's food desert crisis affecting 500,000+ residents. Applications open early 2026.
• Master Chef Lasse Sorensen / Food is Love Productions Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Co-development of Hospitality Leadership Development Program (2,000 hours on-the-job learning, 200 hours technical instruction). Sorensen serves as President of Food Is Love's charitable efforts. Partnership merges Soulcial Kitchen and Food is Love nonprofit community impact work.
• Civil Righteousness (Jonathan Thomas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2024Partnership to open The Garden restaurant and reflection center in Ferguson, MO - a space dedicated to feeding those in need while helping heal the community. Features Spark Tank mentorship program for food truck entrepreneurs, commissary kitchen access, and Currency of Caring token acceptance.
• Old Herald Brewery & Distillery (Derik Reiser)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2024Soulcial Kitchen partnered with Old Herald to bring new dining options to Herald Square in Collinsville. Includes revamped menu development with Chef Lasse Sorensen, Crepes & Cones dessert parlor relocation, and Soulcial Space event venue. Spirits brand releasing 'Spirit of Giving' line supporting Currency of Caring.
• Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs CouncilimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024Adoption of Currency of Caring program to support military families at Barksdale Air Force Base. Local restaurants including Jacquelyn's Cafe, Rhino Coffee, and Marilynn's Place committed to serving meals to airmen presenting tokens.
• Scott Air Force BasecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership providing Currency of Caring tokens to airmen facing food insecurity (reportedly 26% of service members). First sergeants distribute tokens for meals at participating local restaurants. Program awarded Air Mobility Command Community Support Award for fourth time.
• Leadership Council Southwestern IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2024Partnership to provide 200 free meal tokens to Scott Air Force Base for distribution to servicemembers experiencing food insecurity. Initial 200 tokens with goal of sustaining program. Working with local chambers to expand participating restaurants to 26+.
• AltonWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024AltonWorks acquired Space Shuttle Cafe and partnered with Soulcial Kitchen to establish Flock Food Truck Park and Bar at 210 Ridge Street in Alton. AltonWorks brings Danish Master Chef Lasse Sorensen and Food Is Love program to Alton to foster culinary destination status.
• Veterans Community ProjectimportantOthersPartnership with Veterans Community Project for food distribution and support services to veteran populations.
• Feeding America / St. Louis Area FoodbankcoreOthersPartnership with Feeding America network and St. Louis Area Foodbank for food rescue and distribution to address food insecurity in the region.
• Benedictine CollegeimportantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpark Tank entrepreneurship program delivered with Benedictine College School of Business professors providing base-level business education to food truck entrepreneurs. Each cohort has 28 entrepreneurs meeting weekly for lessons on entrepreneurial thinking, menu creation, supply sourcing, and food safety.
• U.S. Air ForcecoreOthersMulti-base partnership supporting food-insecure military personnel through Currency of Caring program. Scott AFB and Barksdale AFB partnerships, with goal of expanding to every military base.
• Fresh HarvestminorOthersPartnership for fresh produce sourcing and food access initiatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Rethink Food: NYC nonprofit (formerly Rethink Food) that rescues surplus food and prepares chef-driven meals for food-insecure communities while training culinary apprentices. Comparable model of food rescue, chef training, and dignified meal distribution - though Rethink is more restaurant/catering-driven rather than food-truck focused.
• La Cocina: San Francisco nonprofit food business incubator that supports low-income entrepreneurs (predominantly immigrant women) launching food businesses. Directly comparable to Soulcial Kitchen's apprenticeship-to-entrepreneurship pathway for aspiring food truck operators, including shared commercial kitchen space and ongoing mentorship.
• DC Central Kitchen: Washington DC-based nonprofit that combines contract foodservice/catering revenue with a culinary job-training program for underserved adults - the closest analog to Soulcial Kitchen's food-service-plus-workforce-development model. Both organizations pair paid catering revenue streams with subsidized meal distribution and DOL-style career pathways.
• Hot Bread Kitchen: NYC nonprofit that combines workforce development with food production (bakeries) operated by program graduates. Comparable mission of using food business as a vehicle for economic mobility among underserved populations, with comparable training and incubation infrastructure.
• The Hatchery Chicago: Chicago-based food and beverage business incubator providing shared commercial kitchens, entrepreneurship education, and access to capital. Highly comparable to Soulcial Kitchen's commissary kitchen rental and Spark Tank entrepreneur development model, especially given Soulcial Kitchen's announced Chicagoland expansion.

Others

• Feeding America: National network of food banks and pantries. Soulcial Kitchen has an active partnership with Feeding America's St. Louis Area Foodbank; while not a direct competitor, Feeding America represents the broader food rescue and distribution infrastructure that complements Soulcial Kitchen's hot-meal preparation model.
• Food Forward: Los Angeles-based food rescue organization that recovers surplus produce and distributes to communities in need. Adjacent in food access mission but operates through produce recovery and distribution rather than prepared meal service or culinary training.

Broad incumbents

• Greyston Bakery: Yonkers, NY-based social enterprise bakery with an open-hire model that employs individuals facing barriers to employment. Comparable social enterprise structure combining food production with workforce development, though focused on manufacturing/bakery rather than food service/food trucks.
• Martha's Table: Washington DC nonprofit addressing food insecurity, education, and family support through community meals and workforce programs. Operates at a larger scale and broader mission than Soulcial Kitchen but shares the dual focus on feeding programs and economic mobility.

Emerging players

• Common Threads: National nonprofit providing culinary and nutrition education to underserved youth and families. Comparable food-focused nonprofit mission and educational programming, though Common Threads emphasizes in-school education rather than food truck entrepreneurship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/foodislovetv
• Facebookfacebook.com/soulcialkitchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodislovetv

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soulcial Kitchen