August 17th 2023.
BLK & Bold, a specialty tea and coffee manufacturer, has recently been named one of the fastest-growing private businesses in the U.S. by Inc. This achievement is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the company's leadership and staff, as well as the power of purpose-driven business.
Rod Johnson, one of the co-founders and the chief values officer of the company, shared his excitement regarding this accomplishment. "Being recognized on the Inc. 5000 list is a true honor," he said to Business Wire. "It feels good to continue to grow without wavering on who we are; we continue to show up with value to our community and ourselves, and that means everything."
The story of BLK & Bold began in 2018 when Johnson and Pernell Cezar founded the company with a mission to give back to at-risk kids. Cezar was inspired while visiting a high-end coffee shop, and wanted to allow everyday people to have access to high-quality coffee at an affordable price point. He also wanted to donate 5% of the proceeds to programs designed to help underserved children.
The pair started small, with only $22,000 of bonus check money which they pooled together to get roasters and beans. They had to be creative due to the lack of access to capital which is often faced by Black businesses. With hard work and determination, the company has grown and is now featured in Target, and carried in 11,000 retail stores across the country.
BLK & Bold is now brand partners with the NBA, NFL, Keurig, and Marvel, and is part of Amazon's Black Business Accelerator program. Cezar is not content for the company to rest on its laurels; he plans for them to eventually open up physical locations to sell their products directly to consumers.
Cezar is also committed to creating social change through the pair's coffee brand. He shared with Yahoo, "It is and will always be important for us to address socio-economic disparities, not only in dialogue but also by creating a funnel to resources. We will continue to act as a leader, not only in spaces we've cultivated, but in partnership. We must continue to invest in diverse voices to solve issues within our communities. This is one of many ways to make a difference."
The success of BLK & Bold is inspiring and demonstrates the power of purpose-driven business. Their journey is an example of the importance of both hard work and dedication, and of the impact that Black businesses can have on the community.
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