Taste of Omaha provides growing opportunity for local food vendors

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Three days, and countless business opportunities.

“Good exposure. Seeing people, shaking hands, you know, people are curious about the different dishes that we offer,” David Wees said, catering director for Dante Mobile Kitchen.

Taste of Omaha is more than a tasting event — for vendors, it’s a way to get seen and get booked.

“People reach out for events. I’ve had somebody come and book us for an event while we’re here — an event for next month,” Destiny Atkins said. “So it definitely helps.”

With thousands of people and more than 40 different vendors, the event gives local businesses a chance to build clientele face-to-face.

“People ask about catering, people ask about vending, people want to know where our brick and mortar is,” Wees said. “Seeing people during this event — this is the opportunity to be here in front of people offering our goods.”

Atkins is the owner of Gimmie the Scoop, a vendor that offers Italian ice. She said Taste of Omaha is playing a key role in growing her business.

“I did Taste of Omaha for the first time last year, and it was hard for me because people didn’t know me,” Atkins said. “This year, they are coming to find me.”

Her inspiration came from her grandmother, who used to make homemade ice cream.

“I remember laying on the end of my grandmother’s bed and telling her all about my dream to start this business,” Atkins said. “I didn’t have the money to afford it really, to buy the machines and make it authentic — and she invested in me.”

A year later, her grandmother passed away.

“It’s what keeps me going, and being able to do it in her honor makes it even easier to get up and do it every day,” Atkins said.

And thanks to events like Taste of Omaha, she’s keeping that dream alive.

“Taste of Omaha really opened a lot of doors for me last year, and I am looking forward to more doors being opened this year,” she said.

The festival brings more than 90,000 people to the RiverFront each year — serving not only great food, but great opportunity.

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