Hardship inspires food brainstorm

When a life-threatening illness forced Lisa J. Raiola to depend increasingly on food delivered to her house by friends and family, she saw a business opportunity to pursue once she recovered.
But her idea to start a food-delivery service led her to the realization that there were many food service-related businesses that could use a helping hand. And so Hope & Main was born.
The Warren-based, food-business incubator went live last October and houses the dreams (and fledgling enterprises) of 30 entrepreneurs, including Backyard Food Co., Fox Point Pickling Company, Laughing Gull Chocolates and Two Gringos, among others.
“When I started this project years ago, I knew it would be for those people like me who have a tremendous passion for what they do,” she said. “It’s like giving birth to 30 babies. There was no more fulfilling feeling.” •

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