A North Texas company says it won’t tolerate racism, inequality
Nothing Bundt Cakes announced Thursday that the company is donating $25,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The announcement comes less than a week after an incident at one of its franchises during a peaceful protest in Southlake.
Nothing Bundt Cakes received complaints on social media from people who said the franchisee of its Southlake location yelled at some protesters as they walked by the store.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram contacted several people who posted about what happened on Twitter and Facebook, but did not get responses.
The franchisee, Dee Dee Anderson, could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this week, Kyle Smith, the CEO of Addison-based Nothing Bundt Cakes, issued an apology on the company’s Facebook page.
“What took place is unacceptable and goes against every value we have and all we stand for as a company. We are a brand that brings people together, not one that divides them,” Smith wrote.
In another post, the company announced that it was making an initial donation of $25,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and that the company reached out to its Black bakery owners who suggested making the donation.
The statement also described how bakeries will promote education and donate to local schools and communities.
“The company stands firmly against racism and inequality. As a franchise organization, we will work to provide greater opportunity to Black people and people of color who dream of business ownership.”
Nothing Bundt Cakes will also join the National Minority Supplier Development Council to reach out to minority-owned businesses.
Smith said in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the decision to donate to the NAACP was already in the works, and that it had nothing to do with the Southlake incident.
Smith also said that Nothing Bundt Cakes is investigating what happened at its Southlake location, and added that bakery owners and team members are not allowed to wear political apparel.
“We are taking this matter very seriously and it is important to us because as a company, we stand in support of justice and equality for the Black community. We know people are angry and upset and we are working to understand all the facts regarding what took place at the bakery,” Smith said.
The June 6 protest in Southlake was organized in response to the death of George Floyd who was in police custody when an officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes.