BLK & Bold
BLK & Bold is a specialty coffee and tea company and the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, selling 100% Fair Trade coffee, RTD cold brew, and organic teas via D2C subscriptions and 11,000+ retail doors, pledging 5% of gross profits to youth-focused nonprofits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersDes Moines, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BLK & Bold does
BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages is a privately held specialty coffee and tea company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 2018 by Pernell Cezar (CEO) and Rod Johnson (Chief Values Officer). It operates as the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand and a certified B Corporation (since July 2020), selling 100% Fair Trade specialty coffees across light, medium, dark, and decaf roast profiles in 12-oz and 5-lb formats, Keurig-compatible K-Cup pods, ready-to-drink canned cold brew, and organic loose-leaf teas, complemented by branded apparel, drinkware, and gift cards. The company pledges 5% of gross profits to a network of 17+ youth-focused nonprofits, with cumulative contributions of $464,000+ reaching 25,000+ youth annually in education, workforce development, food security, mental health, and digital access programs; a dedicated BLK & Bold Foundation was launched in 2024 to deepen this work.
The technology stack is conventional e-commerce: Shopify powers the blkandbold.com storefront with subscription management, and Google Analytics supports web analytics, integrated with Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay at checkout. There are no proprietary AI/ML capabilities or patents disclosed, and no mobile applications. Revenue is generated through two principal streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce with monthly subscription options (free shipping on subscription orders, 15% first-order discount) and one-time purchases, and wholesale distribution through more than 11,000 retail locations across Costco, Target, Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Albertsons, Walgreens, Giant, Winn-Dixie, and Whole Foods. Pricing is unit-based, with 12-oz coffee bags at $14.49, K-Cup 10-counts at $11.49, 5-lb whole bean bags at $77.50, and RTD cold brew 12-pack cases at $45.49.
Go-to-market combines channel partnerships (wholesale and club retail), direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscriptions, and event- and celebrity-driven brand awareness anchored by co-owner Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, who joined in September 2024. The company appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for two consecutive years, and in May 2025 debuted in nine Costco Midwest locations. A February 2026 collaboration with Ben & Jerry's on the Mocha Mood Pie flavor extends the brand into co-branded frozen-dessert applications. No external institutional funding rounds, acquisitions, or parent-company relationships have been disclosed; the company operates independently under founder control with strategic equity participation from Sanders.
BLK & Bold firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BLK & Bold
- Legal name
- BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages
- Website
- https://blkandbold.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BLK & Bold is a specialty coffee and tea company and the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, selling 100% Fair Trade coffee, RTD cold brew, and organic teas via D2C subscriptions and 11,000+ retail doors, pledging 5% of gross profits to youth-focused nonprofits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BLK & Bold industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee & Tea
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- RTD Coffee Production (Non-Dairy/Non-Alcoholic) (AFAFABAE), Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE)
Keywords
Where BLK & Bold is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BLK & Bold business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales - E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer online sales of whole bean coffee, ground coffee, K-Cup pods, cold brew RTD beverages, loose-leaf teas, accessories and merchandise through the Shopify-powered website. Subscription plans offer recurring deliveries with free shipping.
- Wholesale / Retail Distribution: Products sold through national and regional retail chains including Costco, Target, Amazon, Walgreens, Kroger, H-E-B, Albertsons, Giant, Winn-Dixie, and Whole Foods, reaching over 11,000 retail locations nationwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard one-time purchase pricing across coffee, tea, cold brew, accessories |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription / Subscribe & Save model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
BLK & Bold product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BLK & Bold roasts and sells premium 100% Certified Fair Trade specialty coffee in multiple formats including whole bean, ground, 5-lb bulk, Keurig-compatible K-Cup pods, and ready-to-drink cold brew. The portfolio also includes organic loose-leaf teas (green, black, herbal, and matcha), branded accessories and merchandise, and digital gift cards. Products are distributed direct-to-consumer through a Shopify-powered e-commerce site and through over 11,000 national retail locations. The company pledges 5% of gross profits to youth-focused nonprofit organizations.
Product overview
BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages is a specialty coffee and tea company offering a diversified product portfolio centered on premium roasted coffees, organic teas, and ready-to-drink cold brew. The core offering consists of whole bean and ground coffees in 12-oz and 5-lb formats across light, medium, and dark roast profiles, plus Keurig-compatible K-Cup pods. The company expanded into ready-to-drink cold brew in canned formats. Tea offerings include organic loose-leaf varieties in green, black, and herbal categories, plus matcha powder. The portfolio is complemented by branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, accessories) and e-gift cards. All coffee products are 100% Fair Trade certified, and the company contributes 5% of profits to youth-focused nonprofits. The brand operates as a certified B Corporation and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, distributing through major retail chains including Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Whole Foods, Costco, and Amazon.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Whole Bean and Ground Specialty Coffees Line of 100% Fair Trade certified specialty roasted coffees available in 12-oz bags as whole bean or ground, with light, medium, dark, and decaf roast options for individual consumers and households.
- Rise & GRND Medium Roast Blend Sweet and creamy medium roast blend designed for energy and focus, featuring notes of toffee, nuttiness, and citrus acidity from washed process beans at 1,850m altitude. 100% Fair Trade certified and available in 5-lb whole bean bags for regular and commercial buyers.
- BLK & Bold Dark Roast Blend (Sumatra) The namesake dark roast Sumatra blend, roasted in small batches with a heavy-bodied bold flavor profile suitable for espresso shots or regular drip coffee with a roasty, smooth taste.
- Brighter Days Light Roast Blend Vibrant light roast blend with fruity and toffee flavor notes, designed for black coffee drinkers seeking a flavorful cup.
- Coffee-ish Medium Roast Decaf Blend Decaffeinated medium roast blend featuring chocolate, graham, and subtle fruit notes for those who enjoy coffee without caffeine.
- Limu, Ethiopia Single Origin Light Roast Single-origin light roast from Ethiopia, naturally processed with chocolate, blueberry, and honey flavor notes for a bold cup with fruity aftertaste.
- Smoove Operator Dark Roast Blend Dark roast blend available in 5-lb bulk whole bean format targeting regular customers and commercial buyers.
- BLK & Bold K-Cup Pods (Rise & GRND Medium Roast and Smoove Operator Dark Roast) Keurig-compatible single-serve coffee pods available in Rise & GRND medium roast and Smoove Operator dark roast variants, offered in 10-count and 20-count packs for single-cup convenience brewing.
- BLK & Bold Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew Coffee Ready-to-drink cold brew coffee canned products in Unsweet and Nitro Caramel variants, sold in 12-count cases for convenient on-the-go consumption without brewing equipment.
- BLK & Bold Cold Brew Coffee Unsweet Ready-to-drink unsweetened cold brew in 12-count case of 8-oz cans, made from Smoove Operator dark roast with 160mg caffeine. No milk, cream, or sugar.
- BLK & Bold Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Caramel Nitro-infused cold brew with natural creamy caramel and toffee notes plus added caramel flavoring, zero sugar, sold in 12-count case of 7.5-oz cans.
- Organic Loose Leaf Teas Line of organic loose-leaf teas spanning green, black, and herbal varieties, including Chai Green, Peach Black, Hibiscus Citrus Herbal, Chamomile Herbal, Earl Grey Black, Jasmine Green, Lemon Ginger Herbal, Matcha Powder, and Passion Fruit Black.
- BLK & Bold Accessories & Merchandise Branded accessories and merchandise including hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts, tumblers, mugs, hats, lapel pins, and tea bags featuring the BLK & Bold crown logo, priced from $1.50 to $40.
- BLK & Bold E-Gift Card Digital gift cards redeemable on all coffees, teas, and accessories, available in fixed denominations from $5 to $100.
Quantifiable outcome
- $464,000+ contributed directly to nonprofit youth organizations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BLK & Bold
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BLK & Bold technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
BLK & Bold partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core, flagship and supporting.
- Ben & Jerry'snotableBLK & Bold is featured as a coffee partner in Ben & Jerry's Mocha Mood Pie flavor, part of the ice cream company's 2026 sundae lineup. Ben & Jerry's 2025 sundae lineup was recognized as the top new ice cream innovation. The collaboration marks BLK & Bold's entry into the frozen dessert/ice cream brand partnership space.
- SGScoreSGS, a leading inspection, verification, and testing company, helped BLK & Bold turn its climate goals into measurable business impacts through sustainability assessments and data verification. The process enabled the company to identify environmental footprint reduction opportunities and meet B Corp standards, enhancing BLK & Bold's environmental strategy and sustainability performance.
- Deion 'Coach Prime' SandersflagshipDeion 'Coach Prime' Sanders joined BLK & Bold as Co-owner and Social Change Leader in September 2024. A legendary Hall of Fame athlete and coach, Sanders brings transformative brand visibility and is directly involved in amplifying the company's commitment to reshaping the coffee industry. His involvement focuses on marketing, creative, business development, and strategic partnerships.
- ShopifycoreShopify powers BLK & Bold's online e-commerce store (blkandbold.com), providing the platform for direct-to-consumer sales, subscription management, order processing, payment processing, and analytics.
- Google AnalyticssupportingGoogle Analytics is used by BLK & Bold to understand how customers use the website, track browsing behavior, assess marketing and advertising campaign effectiveness, and improve and optimize the site experience.
- 17 Youth Nonprofit OrganizationscoreBLK & Bold's 'For Our Youth' initiative partners with 17 nonprofit organizations across the US including Cloud 9 Farms (Philadelphia), Acta Non Verba (Oakland), City Growers (New York), Comp-U-Dopt (Houston), Greening Youth Foundation (Atlanta), Juxtaposition Arts (Minneapolis), LA Conservation Corps, Sunset Youth Services (San Francisco), Center for Black Innovation (Miami), Urban Growers Collective (Chicago), Youth Guidance (Chicago), By Degrees Foundation (Des Moines), The Black Man Can, Kid Power (DC), NC Child, The Food Project (Boston), YouthCare (Seattle), and Cafe Momentum (Dallas). All nonprofits are dedicated to youth empowerment, education, food security, and opportunity.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BLK & Bold competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Stumptown is a leading U.S. specialty coffee roaster (acquired by Peet's/then JAB Holding) selling whole bean, ground, and RTD cold brew through DTC, wholesale, and national retail. Directly comparable to BLK & Bold on category, format mix, and distribution model.
- Counter Culture Coffee: Counter Culture is an independent specialty coffee roaster emphasizing sustainability, transparency, and direct trade — closely aligned with BLK & Bold's Fair Trade and B Corp identity and a similar wholesale/foodservice-led distribution model.
- Kicking Horse Coffee: Kicking Horse is a Canadian specialty coffee roaster (now part of Lavazza) known for Fair Trade, organic, and shade-grown certifications. Comparable to BLK & Bold on Fair Trade positioning, premium bagged coffee SKUs, and retail grocery distribution.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: La Colombe is a specialty coffee roaster with strong RTD cold brew and draft latte presence in retail and foodservice, plus DTC e-commerce. Highly comparable to BLK & Bold across coffee formats, RTD, and retail distribution.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Blue Bottle is a premium specialty coffee roaster (majority-owned by Nestle) with whole bean, ground, RTD, and subscription DTC. Comparable to BLK & Bold in product mix, premium positioning, and emphasis on freshness and sourcing provenance.
Emerging players
- Grady's Cold Brew: Grady's is a New Mexico-based RTD cold brew brand with national retail presence. Closest pure-play comparator to BLK & Bold's RTD cold brew SKUs (Unsweet, Nitro Caramel).
- Chamberlain Coffee: Chamberlain Coffee is a celebrity-led (Emma Chamberlain) specialty coffee brand selling bagged coffee, RTD, and accessories via DTC and select retail. Highly comparable business model to BLK & Bold on celebrity-amplified, digitally-native, premium-positioned specialty coffee.
- Harney & Sons Fine Teas: Harney & Sons is an independent specialty tea brand with loose-leaf, bagged, RTD, and DTC. Comparable to BLK & Bold on the organic loose-leaf tea portion of the portfolio and premium gifting/merchandise add-ons.
- Compelling & Rich (Cuvée Coffee): Cuvée is a Texas-based specialty roaster with RTD cold brew and wholesale distribution — an emerging competitor operating in BLK & Bold's same specialty RTD and bagged-coffee retail channels.
Broad incumbents
- Peet's Coffee: Peet's Coffee is a large specialty coffee incumbent (owned by JAB Holding) with broad retail distribution, K-Cups, RTD, and DTC. Comparable as a competitive incumbent occupying similar shelf space at retailers like Target, Kroger, and Whole Foods where BLK & Bold competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BLK & Bold social profiles
Digital presenceBLK & Bold compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
BLK & Bold financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BLK & Bold leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
BLK & Bold funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BLK & Bold M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BLK & Bold
What does BLK & Bold do?
BLK & Bold roasts and sells premium 100% Certified Fair Trade specialty coffee in multiple formats including whole bean, ground, 5-lb bulk, Keurig-compatible K-Cup pods, and ready-to-drink cold brew. The portfolio also includes organic loose-leaf teas (green, black, herbal, and matcha), branded accessories and merchandise, and digital gift cards. Products are distributed direct-to-consumer through a Shopify-powered e-commerce site and through over 11,000 national retail locations. The company pledges 5% of gross profits to youth-focused nonprofit organizations.
Is BLK & Bold a public or private company?
BLK & Bold is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BLK & Bold founded?
BLK & Bold was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BLK & Bold based?
BLK & Bold is headquartered in Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does BLK & Bold make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are wholesale / Retail Distribution.
Who are BLK & Bold's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, Kicking Horse Coffee, La Colombe Coffee Roasters and Blue Bottle Coffee. Emerging players are Grady's Cold Brew, Chamberlain Coffee, Harney & Sons Fine Teas and Compelling & Rich (Cuvée Coffee). Peet's Coffee is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does BLK & Bold have an API?
No public API is recorded for BLK & Bold.
What industry is BLK & Bold in?
BLK & Bold's product category is Specialty Coffee & Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAJ, Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing, with a secondary code of AFAFABAE, RTD Coffee Production (Non-Dairy/Non-Alcoholic). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.