Key Principles of Social Enterprises: Has a clear goal as its core purpose

Financial model
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Economic Innovation

Founder: Manal Kahi and Wissam Kahi
Enterprise Name: Eat Offbeat
Website: Eat Offbeat
Location: New York City, United States
Reach: Greater New York City
Overview
When Eat Offbeat founder Manal Kahi arrived in New York City in 2013, she discovered that grocery stores sold countless brands of hummus but none that satisfied her hunger or came close to the quality of the hummus that her grandmother used to prepare during her childhood in Lebanon. Thinking about how she could bring hummus as good as her grandmother’s to New York, Manal had the idea of reaching out to refugees being resettled in New York City. Partnering with her brother Wissam and exchanging stories and conversation on flavors and culture with refugee communities, Eat Offbeat was born using a highly innovative business model. The company would train and employ refugees and minority immigrants who had recently resettled in New York City and were interested in sharing their traditions of food and culture by becoming chefs, regardless of their previous occupations. In line with their name, Eat Offbeat grew to become a large-scale catering company introducing people to new, diverse sets of dishes often originating from areas “off the beaten path”. In 2020, Eat Offbeat pivoted to the home delivery market and now delivers ready-prepared meals to customers all over the New York area, as well as snacks and provisions to customers all over the United States. Eat Offbeat has featured dishes from countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Empowered with their original recipes, chefs hired by Eat Offbeat celebrate their culinary and cultural diversity while earning a living wage and contributing to the local food movement.
Social Impact
Refugee populations have emigrated to the New York City metropolitan area for centuries where among countless other challenges, they often face high rates of unemployment while integrating into life in a new country. Partnering with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Eat Offbeat’’s goals are to employ former refugees, train them as chefs, and to eliminate the stigma associated with refugees by connecting them with people who eat their food.
Financial model
Eat Offbeat earns revenue through catering small and large events and serves food based on a diverse and entirely customizable menu. The company has expanded and also provides individual meal boxes delivered directly to homes around New York City.