KEY TAKEAWAYS: Viola’s Heritage won the 2026 WIN Pitch Smart – Retail Ready competition. The company earned shelf space for its cornbread mix at Dutch’s Corner inside the Convention Center. More than 40 local businesses entered the annual competition hosted by the Convention Center’s S EB Program. The Convention Center has awarded more than $54 million in contracts to small and emerging businesses since 2019.   Viola’s Heritage has won the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s 2026 WIN Pitch Smart – Retail Ready competition, earning shelf space for its cornbread mix inside the Convention Center’s Dutch’s Corner convenience store. The annual competition, hosted through the Convention Center’s Small and Emerging Business Program, drew more than 40 submissions from local businesses this year. Finalists pitched their products to a panel of judges in a format modeled after television investment competitions, with evaluations based on branding, market potential and retail readiness. In addition to Viola’s Heritage, finalists included Cajun Country Boy Seasoning, Drink Mockly, Lyrics Notes Tea, NOLA Lapel Pins and Olive + Alder Co. As the winner, Viola’s Heritage will begin selling its shelf-ready cornbread mix at Dutch’s Corner, the Convention Center’s on-site convenience store, which serves nearly 800,000 visitors annually. LaToya Martin, the Convention Center’s Small and Emerging Business program manager, said the competition serves as both a showcase and a learning opportunity for entrepreneurs participating in the WIN Series. “The WIN Pitch Smart – Retail Ready competition provided a valuable platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses while receiving constructive feedback from our accomplished panel of judges,” Martin said. “We are proud to highlight Viola’s Heritage products at Dutch’s Corner.” Carla Briggs, owner of Viola’s Heritage Breads, credited the Convention Center’s business development programming with helping expand her company’s visibility and growth opportunities. “Attending the WIN and SEB Program events at the Convention Center has made a significant difference in my business, from free workshops, networking and professional insights,” Briggs said. “The SEB Program has helped elevate my visibility, products and has opened doors for more opportunities for success.” The competition concludes the first phase of the Convention Center’s WIN Series, a free program designed to help small and emerging businesses build foundational business skills and connect with growth opportunities. The second phase, titled “Meet the Primes,” is scheduled to run from July through November and will focus on preparing construction and service vendors to compete for procurement opportunities. Planned workshops will cover estimating and bidding, responding to requests for proposals, and presenting businesses to prime contractors and stakeholders. Convention Center President and CEO Jim Cook said supporting small businesses remains a key part of the organization’s mission. “Creating opportunities for our Small and Emerging Businesses to succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of our work here at the Convention Center,” Cook said. “Through our SEB Programs and WIN events, we are proud to continue to invest in the growth of our small businesses and provide opportunities. When small businesses thrive, our whole community sees the difference.” According to the Convention Center, it has awarded more than $54 million in contracts to small and emerging businesses and disadvantaged business enterprises since 2019. The organization said it also supports local companies through initiatives including its WIN Series and the SEBconnect website and mobile app. ...read more read less