Black-owned Tea Businesses Build Community

This is an excerpt from one of my World Tea News articles. To find out more about my freelance writing or to ask me about writing copy for your tea business, please contact me at vee at veetea dot com. Thank you.

Magnolia Spice Teas (Chicago)

President & CEO: Calvita J. Frederick-Sowell

Years in business: 11

Products: All-natural RTDs including four fruit and spice teas, a vanilla lemonade and four exotic fruit nectars

Purpose: To mass-produce high-quality, non-carbonated beverages

How she got started: Fredrick-Sowell grew tired of being a lawyer when she was pregnant with her first child. She believed she could fill a void in the beverage market with her favorite home brew.

Community impact: Magnolia appeals to a wide variety of people, but there is a growing awareness of minority- and woman-owned businesses that has fueled its expansion into large distribution channels.

Landmarks: Distribution with Costco, Kroger, Safeway and Wal-Mart; awards from The World Tea Expo and Tea & Coffee Trade Journal; a 4.5 star rating on BevNet

Goals: To sell to more restaurants, continue to develop private label brands for major national chains and sell to tearooms

Urban Tea Loft (Chandler, Ariz.)

CEO: Glynis Legrand

Years in business: 1 ½

Products: More than 100 loose-leaf teas, foods with and without tea as an ingredient, tea cocktails, tea soaps and lotions

Purpose: To get people to try and enjoy tea in many forms

How she got started: A former Fortune 25 company manager, Legrand started a journey into tea when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. She attended The World Tea Expo to learn more about tea for her own health and decided she belonged in the industry.

Community impact: Legrand said African Americans make up a very small percentage of the local population, but a sizeable percentage of her clients, thanks to word of mouth and events like “Soul Food Saturdays.”

Landmarks: Awards from Phoenix Magazine, participation in the 2008 Super Bowl celebrity-gifting lounge, board membership at The Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

Goals: To set up Internet sales and expand to additional locations

Soon, you’ll be able to read the remainder of this article on my portfolio site, Copy & Taste.