Native American Natural Foods

Four people posing together at a Clearinghouse CDFI community event. — Native American Natural Foods (NANF) is a Native American owned natural foods retail company.

Native American dancers performing in traditional regalia. — Native American Natural Foods (NANF) is a Native American owned natural foods retail company.

Native American Natural Foods (NANF) is a Native American owned natural foods retail company located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. NANF was started in 2006 and is one of only a few non-gaming companies to succeed on an Indian Reservation. The company produces a line of healthy meat snack products under the “Tanka” brand name. These products are made from buffalo and cranberry based on a traditional Native American recipe called “Wasna”. The company, facing cash-flow issues as a result of rapid growth, was turned-down by numerous conventional and community-based lenders.

Clearinghouse CDFI funded a $500,000 working capital loan and $250,000 grant to help sustain NANF’s rapid growth—keeping the company in business and employing people on the reservation. NANF will use the funds to secure supply chain, satisfy increased product orders, and expand into new markets. Clearinghouse CDFI is proud to support this “healthy-foods initiative” and support this entrepreneurial endeavor benefitting the Lakota people.

Download the Just Funded Flyer: Just Funded – NANF

Category:

Native American Projects Small Business

Financing Provided: $500,000 in Loans and a $250,000 Grant

Location: SD

Impact:

Providing Healthy Food Options

Purpose:

Clearinghouse CDFI provided $500,000 in loans and a $250,000 grant to NANF to secure supply chain, satisfy increased product orders, and expand into new markets.

Year Funded: 2011