Nashville, Tenn. – It has been months in the making, but soon Nashville will be the 2019 host of the National Football League (NFL) Draft. Each year the NFL Draft adds exciting, interactive events and activities to create a family football festival. This year, Shugga Hi Bakery & Café will be one of the local vendors working the event.
When Sandra Austin and Kathy Leslie followed their dream of opening a bakery and café in their neighborhood of East Nashville, they had no idea that their home city would host one of the biggest sport related events in the country. Excited to see Nashville being spotlighted, the two sisters researched how their business could be a part of the Draft. “As Native Nashvillians we love that major organizations like the NFL are seeing what we have always known; this city is a great place to do business,” explained Co-owner Sandra. “Once the Draft was definitely coming here, we knew we wanted to be a part of such a great occasion.” Their association with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce helped make that happen.
Through the NFL Business Connect program, Shugga Hi has been selected as one of 80 vendors approved to compete for business with NFL Draft contractors. Their restaurant will be providing hundreds of volunteer’s breakfast as they work to set up the festival footprint for the NFL Draft the weekend of April 25-27.
This year the event is expected to draw more than 300,000 people to the Middle, Tennessee area.
Business Connect is the National Football Leagues’ Supplier Diversity and Inclusion initiative supporting NFL special events. The program serves as a channel for diverse (minority, women, LGBT and Veteran owned) businesses to compete for contracting opportunities in NFL host cities. Shugga Hi is owned by two African-American women.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to work alongside Business Connect and the NFL to provide a delicious meal to all the people working hard to make this event come true to Nashville,” said Co-Owner Kathy. “It is also important that all the visitors to Nashville have a chance to see how diverse we truly are.”
Shugga Hi is located at 1000 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37202 and will have normal operating business hours during the NFL Draft. All volunteers, NFL players and staff, as well as Nashville visitors are encouraged to visit and try some of the best food and desert the city has to offer. To learn more please visit www.shuggahibakeryandcafe.com.
