Yahoo Finance 24 Black-Owned Food And Kitchen Businesses You Can Support Right Now—And Always
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24 Black-Owned Food And Kitchen Businesses You Can Support Right Now—And Always
As protests erupted in cities across the U.S. in response to the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, which joins a long list of such losses, and fiery demonstrations became the center of attention, there were other forms of support being deployed as well.
Companies and brands took to social media and email lists to share statements with varying levels of sincerity and candor on the topic. Many called for supporters of these protests to reconsider where they spend their dollars—in particular, how often they support Black-owned businesses. Now, in 2023, our responsibility to support Black-owned brands is as pressing as ever.
As the cofounder of Bold Xchange, an online shop that exclusively sells Black-owned brands' products, I am familiar with the concept of buying Black as a form of protest. While my team and I spend a lot of energy making the shopping experience delightful, our core mission is to aid in the growth of Black businesses, and therefore Black wealth. According to Nielsen, Black Americans have $1.4 trillion in annual buying power, a figure which underscores the force with which we could apply financial pressure on corporations that do not serve our interests. More importantly, a collective commitment to support Black businesses where possible has the power to invigorate a group that continues to be largely shut out of opportunities for growth, sustainability, and therefore long-term success.
In this way, it is the responsibility of Black Americans and our allies to support Black businesses, unlocking access to wealth, political power, and agency in a nation that has devalued Black lives and voices for too long.
Listing all the Black businesses worth supporting would require an infinite scroll, so instead, I’ll focus on some of the brands that deserve space in your kitchen—many of which I have in my own.
In addition to the brands I've chosen, the Delish team will continue to update this story.
Alexandra Folino/Dope Coffee/McBride Sisters Wine - 2/25
PUR Home
Lavender Grapefruit Dish Soap, 34-oz.
pur-home.com
$12.00
Having a squeaky clean kitchen is one of the best feelings in the world, and PUR Home is one of the best brands you can use to make that happen. Their non-toxic, plant-powered products are tough on messes, but skip harsh chemicals and irritating dyes. With everything from waste-free soap bars to dish detergent and countertop cleaners, it's your one-stop shop for a clean house.
PUR Home - 3/25
Peach State Drinks
Original Brown Sugar Lemon-Aid
peachstatedrinks.com
$65.50
What started as a hobby turned into a legit business for Peach State Drinks' founders. Their line-up of brown sugar and agave-sweetened lemonades are all fresh and hand-pressed. You can sip on the Original Brown Sugar Lemon-Aid year-round, and the makers rotate other flavors seasonally (like mango and peach in the summer).
Peach State Drinks - 4/25
Dope Coffee
Bagged Coffee Set, two 12-oz. bags
realdope.coffee
$34.00
Veteran-owned and Atlanta-based Dope Coffee sells four varieties of ground coffee blends. The beans top-shelf and fair-trade, and you'll find them in K-Cup form, too. I gifted my mom two packs of Dope Coffee for Mother's Day and she's already asking for more. (Not a coffee drinker? You can still offer support by investing in the company.)
Dope Coffee - 5/25
McBride Sisters
McBride Sisters Collection Trio
mcbridesisters.com
$60.97
Although I'm in the early stages of developing a palate for beer, my taste for wine has been steadfast. Enter McBride Sisters, the makers of one of my favorite Rieslings, aptly named "Black Girl Magic." They also make a red blend and a rosé in that line, as well as a slate of other California grape varieties.
McBride Sisters - 6/25
Ivyees
Raw Honey Bundle, two 9-oz. jars
ivyees.com
$32.98
If you're an avid shopper at Whole Foods, you may have come across Ivyees, a brand that sells all things honey. While the product lineup includes hair and body care, the brand's signature products can be found in the condiment aisle: raw honeys with ingredients like sorrel and ginger that turn the sticky sweetener into a superfood.
Ivyees - 7/25
Blondery
Brownie Variety Box, 24-pieces
blondery.com
$85.00
If blondies are more your thing, Blondery is the brand to follow. To give you a sense of how serious they are about blondies, they recently posted a photo of an 11-layer blondie cake—and proceeded to raffle it off to followers on Instagram. Red velvet, strawberry rosé, and pecan salted caramel are some of their most popular flavors.
Blondery - 8/25
Cuples Tea House
BMore Chai, 4-oz.
cuplesteahouse.com
$15.00
With enough variety to make your head spin, Cuples Tea House brands itself as an "urban tea experience," offering tea that delivers in flavor and healthfulness. If you're new to loose leaf tea, Cuples sells accessories as well, including a range of infusers, pots, and tea tumblers.
Cuples Tea House - 9/25
Vicky Cakes
Original Pancake & Waffle Mix
vickycakesonline.com
$4.99
The best family recipes get passed down through generations, and Vicky Cakes is no exception. The dairy-free pancake and waffle mix was originally created by Vicky, who only set out to feed her family of five. Forty years later, the products are still made without preservatives or artificial ingredients, and the company remains fully black-owned.
Vicky's Cakes - 10/25
Uncle Nearest
1884 Small Batch
unclenearest.com
$53.99
Mysteriously referred to by the brand as "the whiskey maker the world never knew," Uncle Nearest spent much of his life making whiskey at Call Farm in Lynchburg, TN. As the story goes, Uncle Nearest may have been the one to perfect the Lincoln County Process—the filtering of whiskey through sugar maple charcoal before aging in charred oak barrels—which gives Tennessee whiskey its signature flavor. The strong history of this brand is backed by a seriously great product. It took home 45 awards last year, making it the most-awarded American whiskey of 2019.
Uncle Nearest - 11/25
It’s Poppin Gourmet Kettle Korn
Kettle Korn Kones, 10-pack
itspoppingourmetkettlekorn.com
$25.00
As Charlotte, NC, transplant, I would be remiss not to mention at least one Charlotte-based black-owned business. It's Poppin' Gourmet Kettle Korn operates in the popular 7th Street Market in Uptown, selling popcorn with flavors you don't hear every day: hot wings, toffee, jelly donuts, and their signature fried chicken kettle korn. Order online and select from a range of sizes, in case you don't want to commit to a full tub of hot wing popcorn on the first try.
It's Poppin - 12/25
VeganSmart
All-In-One Nutritional Shake
naturade.com
$31.42
If you'd prefer your dairy-free alternatives to be something with a little (read: a lot) less sugar, VeganSmart is a tasty go-to for plant-based protein. Their shake powders swap out the usual chalky aftertaste in favor of a creamy finish packed with probiotics, vitamins, and no animal products. Even better? You've got so many flavors to choose from.
Naturade - 13/25
Golde
Superfood Latte Kit
golde.co
$77.00
Speaking of plant-powered products, Golde sells superfood powders with ingredients like matcha, turmeric, and cacao. My favorite way to have the original tonic is blended into a smoothie with fruit and non-dairy yogurt. It adds a rich flavor (thanks to hints of cinnamon and ginger) and is specially formulated to boost gut and immune health. They also sell beauty products made with superfoods.
Golde - 14/25
Sankofa Beer Company
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
sankofabeer.com
$15.00
Another D.C.-based brand, Sankofa Beer is the brainchild of Kofi Meroe and a childhood friend, both of whom were born in the U.S. but grew up in Ghana. Sankofa, a word native to Ghana's Akan tribe, is commonly translated to "go back and get it," the concept that knowledge is gained by looking at history and heritage. There is no question that the name of his brand and the flavor palette of his brews harken to Meroe's continental African upbringing. You can't buy these beers online quite yet (they're available in a handful of shops), but you can support online by purchasing merch.
Sankofa - Instagram - 15/25
Spice Suite
Spice Suite: The Little Black SpiceBook
thespicesuite.com
$25.00
I was first attracted to The Spice Suite when I came across their cooking videos, which had me wishing Smell-O-Vision was a real thing. Check out their curated spice box, released on the first of every month, or visit their Washington, D.C. store when it reopens post-COVID-19.
Spice Suite - 16/25
Ivy's Tea
Rise & Grind Black Tea, 1.5-oz.
ivystea.com
$15.99
Ivy's Tea is a hip-hop-inspired brand that sells teas, honeys, and limited-edition china teacups that give nods to song titles, lyrics, and even one beloved rapper. (My personal favorite is a cup of Rise & Grind black tea with Side Piece cinnamon-infused honey.) The company's owned and operated by a trained herbalist, so the blends are crafted for both taste and health benefits. Good for you, and good for others, too: On the third Friday of every month, Ivy's Tea gives a portion of the day's sales to charity.
Ivy's Tea Co. - 17/25
cxffeeblack
OG Guji Mane
cxffeeblack
$22.00
The Black-owned coffee business is on a mission to "make coffee black again" through education and reclaiming great coffee as an integral part of Black culture. They sell coffee and coffee-related merch on their site including their Ethiopian coffee called Guji Mane. Other than that you can also find art, and apparel, including a digital album.
cxffeeblack - 18/25
Pops Kernel
White Cheddar Ranch
popskernel.com
$8.00
We here at Delish have a love affair with ranch and this Black-owned and operated Memphis-based popcorn company is known for its White Cheddar Ranch popcorn. In case you're in the mood for something else, they also sell a spicy, cheesy popcorn called U R HAWT and even a simple buttered popcorn. You can't go wrong.
Pops Kernel - 19/25
Harlem Chocolate Factory
Bonbons and Truffles
harlemchocolatefactory.com
$18.00
The Harlem Chocolate factory offers a perfect—like, perfect—selection of bonbons and truffles, almost all of which are available for local delivery. The company was founded back in 2015 by Jessica Spaulding and Asha Dixon; the women have taken the brand from a local staple to an Oprah's Favorite Thing of 2020.
Harlem Chocolate Factory - 20/25
Akron Honey
Sweet Three: Mix & Match
akronhoney.com
$19.99
Hailing from Director of Post Production Philip Swift's hometown of Akron, Ohio, Akron Honey makes the sweet stuff from local bees. They offer several different flavors, including hot honey, bourbon barrel honey, and raw honey.
Akron Honey - 21/25
Malamiah Juicebar
Jazz & Blues
malamiahjuicebar.com
$7.39
"Living in NYC, I still get shipments of juice from Malamiah Juice Bar in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI," Allison Arnold, associate SEO editor, said. "It's a family-owned business that's dedicated to supporting the community and their products are great!"
Malamiah Juice Bar - 22/25
Wine Stemware - Set of 6 in Rose
Estelle Colored Glass
estellecoloredglass.com
$185.00
Estelle Colored Glass has luxury, hand-blown glassware in different beautiful jewel tones. The company was founded by Stephanie Summerson Hall, who was inspired by her grandmother's collection of colored glass she bought antiquing. Now, they sell everything from wine glasses to decanters to cake stands.
Estelle Colored Glass - 23/25
Yolélé
Fonio
yolele.com
$7.00
Yolélé was founded by Chef Pierre Thiam, restaurateur of New York's Teranga. He founded Yolélé to introduce African food products to the mainstream market—most notably fonio. Thiam is a bona fide expert on the ancient grain (he even wrote a cookbook about it).
Yolélé - 24/25
A Dozen Cousins
Cuban Black Beans
adozencousins.com
$45.00
A Dozen Cousins provides packaged beans, rice, and seasoning sauces that reflect the flavors of Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American cuisines while using minimally processed ingredients. The Cuban black beans are actress Jennifer Garner's go-to filling for homemade burritos.
A Dozen Cousins - 25/25
Blue Henry Spirits
Dehydrated Blood Oranges
bluehenryspirits.com
$68.00
Founder Adrienne Walker pivoted from a career in the FDA to making her own line of cocktail garnishes. Whether you're looking to coat the rim of your margarita with hibiscus sugar or decorate your piña colada with a dehydrated pineapple slice, Blue Henry Spirits is your destination for high quality garnishes.
Blue Henry Spirits
