It started with three best friends and a vision

Owners and founders Charles Alexander, Mark Edmond, and Jamel Lewis are South-Side Chicago natives who came together with an idea: start one of the first Black-owned sliced bread companies in the world.  Their bread embodies their pledge to provide their customers [#BreadWinners] with high-quality, fresh products to invest in the generational progression of marginalized communities and empower and encourage creativity in young entrepreneurs.

Consumers crave an alternative to cheap, unhealthy bread

One of the unforeseen effects of the pandemic was a surge in popularity for baking bread. (Source) This sudden popularity for baked goods, specifically bread, also brought with it a demand for better-quality, and often times healthier, bread. Many commercially available pre-packaged breads feature highly processed ingredients that are less healthy than their less processed or natural counterparts. (Source)

Artificial additives may improve the shelf-life of commercial pre-packaged breads, but that doesn’t equate to improved nutritional value, or taste of the product. (Source) Consumers are becoming more savvier about their health and nutrition, and with this increase in awareness comes an opportunity to address a growing need.

Black Bread Company makes high-quality bread

Black Bread Co’s solution to the problem of poor subpar bread is our fresh tasting bread. We stripped common additives from our recipes like potassium bromotes, Azodicarbonamide, BHT, BHAs, and even high fructose corn syrup to make a bread that’s simply delectable. Our products are big on flavor, low on additives, and taste like they came right out of the oven.

Black Bread Co. currently sells four premium products: premium white bread, honey wheat bread, premium soft white hotdog buns, and premium soft white hamburger buns. We sell our products to Mariano’s grocery stores and via Grocery Store Run or directly to consumers nationwide through our website. We also sell branded merchandise such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, onesies, and coffee mugs through our website. 

Black Bread Co. gives our consumers the option of making a one-time purchase through our website or to sign up for our subscription services where they receive recurring bread orders on a monthly basis at a 10% discount. Lastly, we sell bulk orders of our bread products at a discounted price to partnering restaurants, depending on the size of the order and the length of the partnership. 

Great flavor and healthy ingredients for modern sensibilities

A 2019 study conducted by the American Bakers Association revealed bread was one of the top five products (Source) purchased among Millennials (consumers 25-40) and Gen Z customers (consumers 18-24). To meet the sensibilities of our target market, we aim to make delicious bread with quality ingredients. We are also expanding our products to offer a wider variety of healthier breads.

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A point of pride for Black Bread Co. is that we are a minority-owned and operated business with a cause. Not only do we sell bread, but we also invest in marginalized and disenfranchised communities. Moreover, we are fighting food waste by selling our products in quantities of 2, 6, and 10, so families don’t overbuy and accidentally waste food.

Lastly, and most importantly, we dedicate a portion of every loaf of bread sold to the distribution of free bread for those in need. For example, in 2021, Black Bread Co. donated boxes of free bread to families devastated by the natural disaster in Texas. It’s our way of giving back to those who need it most.

In just a year, we’ve launched into the national spotlight

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Since our inception in February of 2021, we have generated over $263,000. We have secured strategic partnerships with household companies such as Target, Mariano's Foods, Chicago Bulls, Gourmet Foods International (Distribution), and Levy Restaurants.    

Black Bread Co. has also benefited from an immense amount of national media attention. Our most notable appearance was when we were featured on the Ellen Degeneres Show and received a check for $20,000.   

Additionally, we have been featured by ABC 7 Windy City Live, NBC 5 Chicago, Discovery+, the Mike Hill Show, Fox Soul, and OWN Network. Our social media following has blossomed to over 25K on Instagram and over 26K on Facebook.  

Invest in Black Bread Co. so we can invest in our community

Becoming a shareholder in Black Bread Co. satisfies a financial and social need. Financially speaking, you would be backing one of the only minority-owned and operated bread businesses that’s experiencing booming momentum in a multi-billion dollar industry. Socially, you would be transitively investing in disenfranchised communities and the betterment of young entrepreneurs. Help us help others and make potentially healthy returns by investing in Black Bread Co.