3 Black-owned brands to watch for at Spark Change

There are plenty of different ways to explore the Spark Change Product Discovery Zone (PDZ), whether you know exactly what brand or type of product you’re looking for or not. My favorite way is by using the “Special Attributes” filter found on the left side of the screen in the PDZ area of the swapcard Spark Change platform. I use it all the time to search by characteristics such as Certified B Corp, Mission-driven, 1% for the Planet, Fair Trade for Life or different ownership models—whether they’re family owned, LGBTQIA+ owned, women owned or BIPOC owned—among other things.

With so many retailers currently promoting Black-owned businesses, I was excited to find these three fantastic Black-owned brands (below) in the PDZ this week. Also, be sure to register for Spark Change and keep an eye out for the unveiling of the amazing brands that participated in the The Spotlight BIPOC Brand Podium on the Spark Change platform Wednesday, Sept. 16. 

Naturade

Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis entered the natural products industry by putting healthy food into vending machines in public schools. Since acquiring legacy brand Naturade in 2012, they’ve worked to bring a message of better health through better nutrition to a wider audience, with the goal of expanding their message into food deserts and minority communities suffering from nutrition-related diseases. Find Naturade in the Spark Change Product Discovery Zone.

Yolélé

This brand could be credited with putting gluten-free super grain fonio on the map in the U.S. Founded by Pierre Thiam and Philip Teverow, it was also created with the goal of fighting poverty and supporting farmers in West Africa. Fonio, an ancient grain that is rich in essential amino acids and easily digestible, can be cultivated using very little water, making it a sustainable crop for farmers in this region that are suffering from the effects of climate change. The company works with African NGO Sos Sahel to measure the ongoing impact of fonio farming in growing areas and donates 1% of all sales to the NGO’s community funds. Find Yolélé in the Spark Change Product Discovery Zone.

Amore Congelato

This Black-, woman- and veteran-owned company puts its mission on every pint of its oat milk gelato, asking consumers to “Stay Woke” by including a different fact about social injustice on every carton. This plant-based, dairy-free product also promotes a better-for-you mission on the inside. Sweetened only with a combination of date syrup, coconut sugar and agave nectar, each serving is also packed with vitamins, minerals and proteins. Founder and CEO Thereasa Black wanted to create a product that parents can feel good about feeding their children, or indulging in themselves. Find Amore Congelato in the Spark Change Product Discovery Zone.