am·pli·fy : to increase the strength or amount of; to make larger or greater
Over the past few months, one of our main focuses has been to amplify the voices of Black women around the world. With a diverse community of our own, we reached out to you on Instagram to share YOUR favorite Black, female-owned small businesses that you know and love!
This is part of an incredible round-up series featuring some of these women and small businesses that you can support online now and in the future…in so many different industries from skincare products, to podcasters, fashionistas, designers, accountants, and more!
Our mission has always been to empower women to chase after their entrepreneurial dreams – and now more than ever, it’s time to amplify our support for our Black community. Plus, it’s just one small way we can all do our part towards bridging the gap and supporting small!
So without further adieu, here are eight incredible Black, female entrepreneurs who have turned their passions into a successful food or drink brand!
Get ready to support Black women and satisfy your cravings while doin’ it…
Robin + Andréa McBride | Owners of McBride Sisters Wine Collection
Business:
McBride Sisters Wine Collection: The largest African-American-owned wine company in the United States.
About the Founders:
Robin and Andréa were raised in the wine regions of Monterey, California and Marlborough, New Zealand. Living across the world from one another, they were unaware of the other for nearly half their lives. Despite the 7,000 miles that separated them, the sisters eventually found their way to each other in 1999.
Quote:
“We want to encourage women to color outside the lines, to never settle, and to empower each other, because, as we always say, empowered women empower women. Hopefully, Andréa and I will help open doors for other women, just as women before us have done.” — Robin
Buy These:
- Black Girl Magic NV California Sparkling Brut
- Black Girl Magic 2018 California Merlot
- SHE CAN 4-Pack Sampler
Instagram:
What We Love:
Robin and Andréa created “The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund” to promote the professional advancement of women in the wine industry. They awarded scholarships of nearly $40k to empower women to strive for change and to create opportunities for themselves where there hadn’t been before!
This year, the She Can Professional Development Fund will launch #shecanthrive2020 awarding grants to black-female-owned small businesses who need access to funds to help bring their ideas to life, to help them reopen after the pandemic closures, and to make necessary adjustments to not just survive but to thrive in a post-quarantine world!
Ashley Rouse | Owner of Trade Street Jam Co.
Business:
Trade Street Jam Co.: Handmade, low sugar, vegan jams.
About the Founder:
Ashley has a background in food service, food marketing, and social media management, but her passion for culinary creativity is what led her to start selling her jams. She’s an Aries (admitting that she is extremely stubborn), loves to eat junk food and drink craft cocktails, and is expecting a little jam baby in July!
Quote:
“Cooking should be fun and reflective of the person at hand, but what it shouldn’t be, is complicated.” — Ashley
Buy These:
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What We Love:
These aren’t just your regular jams. They can be used in cocktails, salad dressings, BBQ sauces, marinades, pan sauces, and so much more!
Kris Christian | Owner of Chicago French Press
Business:
Chicago French Press: Premium, organic coffee that is single-origin, flavored by hand, offering a variety of coffee selection in several grind options.
About the Founder:
Kris began her career on Wall Street as a financial analyst. Tracking trends, building models and assessing performance, she realized her passion was stronger for people than profits. In 2011, she left the world of investment banking and became a full-time entrepreneur.
Quote:
“Our story is about more than just selling good coffee; it’s about doing good work.” — Kris
Buy These:
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What We Love:
Chicago French Press donates a portion of sales from each bag sold to raise awareness and support local and national programs for people in need!
Stephanie Williams | Owner of Oh-Mazing!
Business:
Oh-Mazing!: Award-winning granola snack handcrafted in Washington, DC.
About the Founder:
Stephanie resigned from her full-time job at a biotech company so that she could spend more quality time with her then infant and two year old. She still wanted to provide a living for her family, so she started a dinner delivery service to help other working parents have healthier, yet easy dinner options for their families. Eventually, she was inspired to create a granola recipe, which became a hit among family and friends.
Quote:
“Our company does not just want to sell granola, but we want to inspire others to be the best versions of themselves. Our life motto is: Be Extraordinary, Be Adventurous. Be Oh-Mazing!” — Stephanie
Buy These:
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What We Love:
Not only does Stephanie produce some of the most delicious granola, but she also has a huge heart for wanting to inspire others to live their life with purpose and passion while following their dreams!
Nailah Ellis-Brown | Owner of Ellis Infinity Beverage Company
Business:
Ellis Infinity Beverage Company: The manufacturer of Ellis Island Tropical Tea, an all-natural, antioxidant-rich hibiscus tea. Ellis Island Tea is a smooth, flavorful Jamaican blend, steeped in family tradition, brewed and bottled in Detroit.
About the Founder:
Nailah is the first person in her family to bottle and retail her great-grandfather’s hibiscus sweet tea recipe. She is also the first African American female entrepreneur with a production beverage facility.
Quote:
“Before my great grandfather died, he gave the recipe to my father and told him, ‘this recipe is to be sold and not told,’ therefore I made a promise to carry on the family legacy by bringing this tea to the market.” — Nailah
Buy These:
Instagram:
What We Love:
Since elementary school, Nailah knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur and did everything she could to make that dream a reality!
Essie Bartels | Owner of Essiespice
Business:
Essiespice: Vegan sauces and spice blends crafted in small batches using traditional West-African spices and cooking methods with influences from Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe.
About the Founder:
Essie’s love for spice was ignited in her mother’s kitchen in Ghana when she was a young girl. She traveled all over the globe playing with exotic palates, testing cuisines, and concocting condomants. As her experiments with spices grew, so did the demand for her homemade sauces!
Quote:
“Through my experiences as an immigrant moving to the US and establishing a food business, I aspire to break the stereotypes for immigrants wanting to dream beyond borders but especially to inspire my niece to be fearless in her pursuits and goals through travel; the world is her oyster.” — Essie
Buy These:
Instagram:
What We Love:
Just about every week, Essie shares cooking hacks and facts on her Instagram feed that will completely and totally transform your kitchen skills!
LaTischa Brown | Owner of Honey Bz Organic Juices
Business:
Honey Bz Organic Juices: Organic cold press juices filled with natural holistic herbs and nutrients.
About the Founder:
LaTischa began selling her organic vegetables straight out of her garden to her friends and coworkers. Soon after, her mom was shockingly diagnosed with uterine cancer. After learning how juicing vegetables was a great way to combat cancer cells, put a glow in your skin, and cleanse the uterus of a woman, she decided to give it a try. Shortly after, she launched Honey Bz Organic Juices!
Quote:
“The honey bee’s job is to go from flower to flower getting nectar and pollen, spreading love to the other plants as well creating the joyful natural organic sweetener, Honey. Here at Honey Bz Organic Juice, we’re sending out love to all for you to thrive in having a body and mind that is well.” — LaTischa
Buy These:
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What We Love:
In the beginning, LaTischa had no idea how to do anything business-related besides making juice. Since she was so passionate about the product she was creating and wanted to impact other people’s lives, she did everything she could to bring her business to life by learning and just simply trying.
Christian Sargent | Owner of Vicky Cakes
Business:
Vicky Cakes: Vegan-friendly homemade pancake and waffle mix with no preservatives, artificial colors, or GMOs manufactured in Texas.
About the Founder:
Before becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom, Christian was a national radio show host. She is now known as “The Pancake Boss” and has her eyes set on making Vicky Cakes the #1 pancake and waffle mix company in the world.
Quote:
“We are committed to bringing 1,000,000,000 families back to the table with the heart of breakfast. To eat together, laugh together and create new memories together.” — Christian
Buy These:
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What We Love:
Christian launched Vicky Cakes on Mother’s Day, as her gift to her mother Vicky. The company is based on a nearly-40-year-old buttermilk pancake recipe that her mother created.
