From Family Traditions to Grocery Shelves: Annie’s Kiva Journey
We’re proud to spotlight another inspiring success story from our Invest Local Initiative: Addielee’s Kitchen & Catering LLC , a women-owned food business rooted in family, flavor, and community.
Meet the Story Behind the Business
Annie Whitlock’s lifelong passion for cooking is rooted in her early experiences growing up in Alabama, where she learned to cook alongside her Aunt Laura and gained a deep appreciation for the role food plays in bringing people together.
Years later, while assisting her youngest daughter at a busy daycare, Annie developed a chicken patty made with all-natural, quality ingredients that appealed to even the pickiest eaters. Soon, parents were asking for more, fueling the idea that she had created something special.
Building on this momentum, Annie continued to refine her product and even secured a patent for her signature gourmet chicken patties.
After years of running a restaurant and catering business, Annie officially brought her frozen gourmet chicken patties to grocery store shelves across South Carolina and Alabama in 2025.
As demand for distribution continued to grow, Annie sought to scale production. With guidance and support from the Lowcountry Kiva Hub , she successfully secured a $15,000 loan which will be used to purchase commercial equipment to increase production capacity and help her meet growing demand from regional grocery partners.
Lowcountry Local First is proud to serve as a Kiva Trustee through the Lowcountry Kiva Hub . As a trusted community partner, we identify, endorse and offer support to small business owners who are ready to grow, helping them unlock 0% interest funding through Kiva. By participating in this social underwriting model, we’re helping to provide equitable access to capital while investing in the people and businesses that directly strengthen our local economy.
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