BD Imports

What BD Imports does

BD Imports is a family-owned specialty green coffee importer founded in 1999 by Phyllis and Patrick Johnson and headquartered in Acworth, Georgia. The company sources unroasted green coffee beans from a network of international producers and sells primarily to small-to-large US coffee roasting companies, with secondary direct-to-consumer book sales. Its core commercial activity is B2B green coffee importation, supplemented by a niche consumer book line ('The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee,' $24.95 softcover and $13.97 digital) where proceeds are split between farmers and the affiliated Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.

The company's differentiation rests on equity-focused sourcing rather than proprietary technology. Through the Black Producers Program (launched 2020), BD Imports connects Black Brazilian farming families to international specialty buyers, with documented producer reinvestment in processing equipment and farm upgrades since the first shipment. Through founder Phyllis Johnson's earlier role in forming IWCA East Africa chapters and ongoing relationships with the International Women's Coffee Alliance, BD Imports maintains a producer network spanning Brazil (Minas Gerais, Matas de Minas) and Burundi (Kalico's 7 washing stations in Kirundo province). The firm has no proprietary software platform; its operational technology is conventional green coffee supply chain management with a relationship-led, sample-request-based sales motion.

BD Imports generates revenue through a transaction-fee model on green coffee sales with quote-based, multi-year contracts, plus one-time license sales of the founder's book. The company runs an annual producer-buyer trip program to Minas Gerais since 2022 and participates in industry conferences including AFCA and IWCA events. The affiliated nonprofit Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity launched the Brewing for Equity Fellowship in August 2025, signaling modest vertical expansion into leadership development, though this sits outside the core commercial importer. The firm has no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and operates with a 5-person team.

Name

BD Imports

Legal name

BD Imports

Website

https://bdimports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BD Imports is a family-owned green coffee importer founded in 1999 and based in Acworth, Georgia. It sources specialty green coffee from producers in Brazil and Burundi for US coffee roasting companies, anchored by the Black Producers Program and International Women's Coffee Alliance relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Coffee Importing

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ethnic Beverages Wholesale (Specialty/Import) (AFAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Green coffee importing
• Specialty coffee sourcing
• Coffee import services
• Green coffee wholesale
• Coffee supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Acworth, GA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Green Coffee Importing: Core business: importing and selling green (unroasted) coffee beans to roasting companies. Supplies small to large coffee roasting companies based on their quality needs. Long-term relationships with producers ensure consistent supply and quality.
2. Book Sales: Sale of Phyllis Johnson's book 'The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee' in both digital (PDF) and softcover formats. Proceeds split between farmers and Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BD Imports imports green (unroasted) specialty coffee beans from international producers, including Black Brazilian farming families and women-led cooperatives, and supplies them to coffee roasting companies based on quality and volume needs. The company also publishes and sells Phyllis Johnson's book 'The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee' in digital and softcover formats, with proceeds supporting farmers and the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.

Product overview

BD Imports is a family-owned green coffee importing company founded in 1999. The core product is green coffee sourced from international specialty coffee producers, including through the Black Producers Program which connects Black Brazilian farmers with roasters. The company also publishes Phyllis Johnson's book 'The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee' available in digital and softcover formats. Additionally, founder Phyllis Johnson founded the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity, a nonprofit that operates the Brewing for Equity Fellowship program for leadership development in the coffee industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Producers Program: A program focused on racial and gender equity in coffee supply chains, connecting Black Brazilian coffee producers with international buyers.
• 132 Collection
• Brewing for Equity Fellowship
• The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee

Products and services

• Green Coffee Green (unroasted) specialty coffee beans sourced from international producers (including Black Brazilian farmers, women-owned operations, and producers in Brazil and Burundi) and supplied to small to large coffee roasting companies based on quality and volume needs.
• The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee (Softcover) Softcover book by Phyllis Johnson documenting the stories and struggles of Black Brazilian families breaking into the global specialty coffee market; proceeds split between farmers and the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.
• The Triumph: Black Brazilians In Coffee (Digital) Digital PDF version of Phyllis Johnson's book documenting Black Brazilian families breaking into the global specialty coffee market; proceeds split between farmers and the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.
• Black Producers Program A racial and gender equity sourcing program that connects Black Brazilian coffee producers with international buyers, enabling first-generation landowners to export specialty coffees and reinvest in their businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Producers able to reinvest in businesses, purchase processing equipment, upgrade facilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Miriam Aguiar (Fazenda Cachoeria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Brazilian organic farmer who partnered with Phyllis Johnson to explore opportunities. Connected Johnson with nearby Black family coffee farm. Engaged as business partners teaching quality production. Co-marketing coffees as the '132 Collection'.
• Coffee Coalition for Racial EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization founded by BD Imports founder Phyllis Johnson in 2020. Focuses on building racial equity within the coffee industry, including diversity in trade, green coffee, roasting, and all aspects of the supply chain. Launched 'Brewing for Equity Fellowship' leadership development program in August 2025.
• International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBD Imports has relationships established through IWCA Brazil chapter. Phyllis Johnson helped lead formation of IWCA chapters in East Africa in 2009. IWCA breakfast held during African Fine Coffees Association Conference. Kalico is a founding member of IWCA Burundi Chapter.
• Peixoto Family (Tradição Peixoto)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Brazilian family (Sítio Santo Antônio) who are among first Black Brazilian families to export into international specialty market with their name and recognition. Neide Peixoto presented Black Producers Program to Pacheco Family. Family pleased to share stories and support racial equity initiatives.
• KalicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurundi-based coffee exporting, processing, and production company operating 7 washing stations. One of founding members of IWCA Burundi Chapter. Owner Angel Ciza has devoted washing stations to gender equity programs. Coffees carry well appreciated Burundi flavor profile.
• Roaster PartnerskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily-owned coffee roasting companies engaging with BD Imports through Black Producers Program. Partners understand value of long-term relationships and transparent business relationships. Several have joined annual visits to farms in Brazil.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ECOM Trading: Major global commodity coffee trader with specialty coffee operations. Comparable as a green coffee supply counterparty to roasters, though typically serving larger accounts.
• Coffee Holding Company: US-based integrated coffee company that includes a specialty green coffee division. Comparable as a broader green coffee supplier serving roasters, though operating at much greater scale and product breadth.
• Volcafe (ED&F Man): One of the world's largest green coffee traders with a specialty division. Comparable as a green coffee supplier to roasters, but operates at far greater scale across commodity and specialty markets.

Direct peers

• Caravela Coffee: Specialty green coffee importer with deep Latin American producer roots and PECA quality programs. Comparable for its Latin American producer focus and direct-trade model to roasters.
• Royal Coffee: Long-established specialty green coffee importer based in the Bay Area with deep producer relationships across Latin America and Africa. Comparable as a B2B specialty green coffee wholesaler serving independent roasters.
• Sustainable Harvest: Specialty coffee importer with a strong relationship-based, transparency-focused model similar to BD Imports. Directly comparable for its emphasis on producer-direct sourcing and long-term partnerships with smallholder farms.
• Atlantic Specialty Coffee: Specialty green coffee importer focused on quality single-origin offerings for North American roasters. Comparable as a mid-sized B2B green coffee trader with curated origin relationships.
• Cafe Imports: One of the largest specialty green coffee importers in North America, offering a broad multi-origin portfolio of green beans to roasters. Directly comparable as a B2B specialty green coffee trader with an emphasis on producer relationships and quality education.
• Sucafina: Global green coffee trader with a significant specialty coffee division. Comparable as a B2B green coffee supplier to roasters, with substantially greater scale and origin breadth than BD Imports.

Others

• Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters (illustrative roaster partner archetype): Independent specialty roaster representative of the buyer profile BD Imports serves. Not a competitor, but illustrates the typical downstream customer — small to mid-sized roasters seeking transparent, story-rich green coffee.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BD Imports