Zane’s Carolina Expo is a premier shopping, food, and community event hosted by Zane’s Carolina Seasoning. Our mission is to bring together local businesses, entrepreneurs, artisans, food vendors, food trucks, and community partners from across North Carolina and surrounding areas to create an exciting marketplace experience for shoppers of all ages. Based in Sanford, North Carolina, Zane’s Carolina Expo was created to serve as a premier marketplace and business showcase that celebrates entrepreneurship, community engagement, and Carolina pride. Founded by Dr. Chef Zane Marks and Dr. Akilah Marks, owners of Zane’s Carolina Seasoning, the Expo was inspired by their passion for supporting small businesses and strengthening local communities. For over a decade, they have built their brand around Zane Gray’s Vegetable Seasoning, a unique seasoning blend that is shipped throughout the United States and carried in major grocery stores across North Carolina. As vendors themselves for the past nine years, Dr. Zane and Dr. Akilah understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities small business owners face. Through the support, relationships, and encouragement they have received throughout their entrepreneurial journey, they created Zane’s Carolina Expo as a way to give back to the vendor community. Their vision is to host Zane’s Carolina Expo twice each year, creating a professional, family-friendly event where vendors, food trucks, sponsors, and shoppers can come together to support local businesses, discover new products, and build lasting community connections. Our Mission At Zane’s Carolina Expo, our mission is to create opportunities for small businesses to grow, connect, and thrive while providing an exceptional shopping and entertainment experience for the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, creating economic opportunities within our communities, showcasing quality products and services, building meaningful relationships between businesses and consumers, promoting community engagement through family-friendly events, and providing a professional platform for vendors, sponsors, and partners. Our goal is to establish Zane’s Carolina Expo as one of the Carolinas’ premier vendor and business showcase events, bringing together food, fashion, crafts, services, entertainment, and community under one roof.