September 13th 2023.
Antonio McBroom has made history as the first ever Black-owned and Black-led multi-unit franchise group CEO for Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. According to Spectrum News, McBroom holds ownership of 15 Ben & Jerry's establishments, located in the southeastern United States, as well as a Starbucks location.
McBroom's mission is much bigger than his own entrepreneurial success. He is passionate about inspiring others to believe they can attain similar accomplishments. When asked about it by Spectrum News, McBroom said, “The responsibility of being a Black entrepreneur is just showing others what’s possible. I know that a lot of folks growing up don’t see cases of Black excellence, and so for me to be a model, an example for folks in my community of just what’s possible.”
McBroom's success story started from modest beginnings. His first job at Ben & Jerry's was as a scooper during his freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His hard work and dedication paid off, as he was able to purchase his first franchise in Chapel Hill shortly before his college graduation. He became the youngest franchisee in Ben & Jerry's history with his purchase. In addition to his Ben & Jerry's franchises, he is a lead curator and developer with the Vickers Bennett Group.
McBroom has been widely recognized for his success. He was awarded the Franchisee of The Year in 2018 by Black Enterprise, the Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award by the University of North Carolina Black Alumni Group, and The Big O Operator of the Year in 2021, the MVP Multi-Unit Franchise Award, and the Ben & Jerry's Global Impact Award in 2023 by Ben & Jerry's.
In addition to his own success, McBroom is also helping others achieve their goals. Along with his friends, Eric Taylor and Phillip Scotton, he formed a limited liability company called Primo Partners, which they used to develop a mini-empire of Ben & Jerry's locations across the South.
McBroom also isn't shy to share his learned lessons. In an interview with Entrepreneur Magazine, he offered advice to those looking to follow in his footsteps. He said, “Be deliberate in selecting a brand that’s a good fit. Think about the values you have as an entrepreneur and as a person and look for brands that align with those values. The biggest rubs I’ve seen are when there’s kind of franchisee and franchisor misalignment on values. That’s really hard to overcome.”
Antonio McBroom is a true inspiration, and his success is a symbol of what can be achieved if one works hard and is dedicated to their goals. His mission is to inspire others to believe they can also become successful, and he's doing an incredible job of that. He is a model for those in his community, and beyond, of the power of hard work and perseverance.
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