Marking a major milestone for regional culinary infrastructure and consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing, the Southern Georgia Black Chambers (SGBC) officially hosted the grand ribbon-cutting ceremony and product launch for Chef Acree’s Heavenly Spice Blend Seasoning LLC on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

Held inside the Cox Hall Conference Center at Wiregrass Technical College, the high-profile ceremony celebrated the market expansion of CEO and Founder Chef Tammy Acree, who officially unveiled her proprietary seasoning product line alongside her newly published Heavenly Creations Cookbook. The gathering brought together regional enterprise leaders, civic advocates, culinary students, and community supporters to solidify Chef Acree’s enterprise as an invaluable community asset across South Georgia’s 18-county footprint.

Moving beyond traditional ceremonial milestones, the expansion represents a concrete leap in local manufacturing and technical capability. As one of only three African American woman-owned seasoning manufacturers in South Georgia, Chef Acree has vertically integrated her business model to combine culinary education, commercial catering, personal chef services, and retail CPG manufacturing under a single corporate umbrella.

"Today is not simply the opening of a business; it is a celebration of promise fulfilled, prayers answered, and generations of perseverance coming together in one moment," said Chef Tammy Acree during her address. "Many people will see bottles of seasoning on the shelf, a logo, and a ribbon. What they cannot see is the journey—transforming pain into passion, transparency into inspiration, and turning trial into purpose. Today, we are not simply cutting a ribbon; we are cutting away fear, shame, and every limitation spoken over our lives to build generational wealth."

Chef Acree, a Master Graduate of the SGBC Small Business Academy at Valdosta State University and a ServSafe-certified culinary instructor, has built an enterprise designed to actively mentor the next generation of food service professionals, regularly deploying her active students into live commercial kitchens and hospitality events.

During the ceremony, SGBC President/CEO H. DeWayne Johnson emphasized the systemic economic impact of scaling Black-owned CPG manufacturers within the regional ecosystem.

"Across our nation, Black Americans command over $2.1 trillion in buying power, yet our dollar circulates for only six hours within our own community before leaking out," stated Johnson. "Our core mission at the Southern Georgia Black Chambers is to build the Technical Capacity and commercial platforms required to ensure our capital recirculates locally to fuel sustainable Economic Expansion. When we rally behind founders like Chef Tammy Acree—who consistently shows up, invests in her skills, and pours into others—we aren't just supporting a business; we are securing the economic backbone of South Georgia."

The ceremony featured powerful tributes from long-time supporters, family members, and peer entrepreneurs within the SGBC Ecosystem, including education consultant Dr. Sheila Thomas, Wiregrass Technical College faculty, and members of the SGBC Executive Board. Attendees were treated to a curated culinary showcase featuring Chef Acree’s signature confections and dishes seasoned with her proprietary blend.

Chef Acree’s Heavenly Spice Blend Seasoning line and the Heavenly Creations Cookbook are now available for retail purchase, commercial catering inquiries, and institutional distribution.

Business & Ordering Information:

• Firm Name: Chef Acree's Heavenly Spice Blend Seasoning LLC

• Product Line: Signature Heavenly Spice Blend, Personal Catering, & Heavenly Creations Cookbook

• Website: https://chefacree.com/