LA28 Launches L.ocal A.uthentic Program to Put L.A. Food Vendors Inside the 2028 Games

# What the program is

LA28 has launched the L.ocal A.uthentic Program to bring local food vendors into the heart of the 2028 Olympic experience. The program is framed as the largest integration of local food businesses into a Games' food-and-beverage plan to date. It will allow hundreds of Los Angeles–based food trucks, festival-style pop-ups, carts, and family-run operations to serve spectators across Olympic zones.

# Goals and scale

LA28 positions the effort as both a visitor experience and an economic opportunity. The broader food-and-beverage operation for the Games is expected to create more than 17 million meals overall. LA28 has committed that 75% of available budget funds will go to businesses in the Los Angeles region and 25% to small businesses.

Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chief Executive Officer, is quoted describing the intent: "The Games are an extraordinary opportunity to show the world what makes Los Angeles special while creating meaningful opportunities for the local businesses that make this city what it is." He added that the program aims to give entrepreneurs a platform to grow "well beyond 2028."

# How the program will operate

Applications open Sept. 10 and close Nov. 16 on the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMPLA) website.

# Vendor support and preparation

LA28 is offering organized mentorship and preparation support to help selected vendors meet the demands of a large-scale event. Areas of support listed include:

• Scaling up production to serve large crowds
• operations
• Securing insurance and meeting permitting requirements
• Refining inventory planning, staffing, and logistics

The stated aim is practical: to prepare local businesses to operate at the scale of the Olympics and to leave those businesses stronger after the Games conclude.

# What this means for vendors and visitors

For vendors, the program is a route to access a major, short-term influx of customers while also gaining operational skills and connections with official operators. For visitors, LA28 says the program will expand food choices in Olympic zones and encourage spectators to explore neighborhood flavors that Angelenos know.

# Takeaway for interested businesses

If you run a food truck, cart, pop-up, or small food business in Los Angeles and want to participate: apply on the RAMPLA site between Sept. 10 and Nov. 16. Expect an application and, if selected, participation in mentorship activities that address permits, insurance, production scale, and logistics.

# How this fits into LA28's broader commitments

This initiative is presented as part of LA28's overall food strategy and sustainability goals. It aligns with explicit spending targets for regional and small businesses and with an emphasis on serving a wide range of dietary needs across the Games.