The specialty coffee brand brings premium, ethically sourced blends to nine Midwest Costco locations
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 14, 2025 -- BLK & Bold®, the largest independently owned, social impact-driven brand, is proud to announce its latest expansion into Costco. Beginning May 19, BLK & Bold will debut its signature Rise & GRND Medium Roast blend to nine stores across the Midwest in all new 2 lbs bags made exclusively for Costco.
Founded in 2018 by childhood friends Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson, BLK & Bold has quickly become a leader in the specialty coffee category by marrying premium products with a strong social mission. As the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, BLK & Bold commits 5% of its gross profits to its 'For Our Youth' initiative, a model that has generated over $450,000 to nonprofit organizations since launch.
"Costco represents a partner that values quality, scale, and community connection, all things that align deeply with how we built BLK & Bold," said Pernell Cezar, Co-Founder and CEO of BLK & Bold. "From day one, this brand was built on the belief that what you consume should reflect what you care about, and this partnership helps us deliver that at scale."
As major retailers reevaluate their commitments to diversity, Costco's support of a purpose-led, Black-owned brand like BLK & Bold sends a meaningful signal about the role of equitable shelf space in today's marketplace.
Costco members in Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri will now have access to BLK & Bold's most popular coffee blend, offering a bold, flavorful, and socially conscious coffee experience. The rollout includes stores in West Des Moines, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; and Springfield, St. Louis, St. Peters, and Manchester, MO.
To build momentum around the launch, BLK & Bold is supporting the rollout with a targeted marketing strategy designed to drive awareness and engagement both in-store and online. As part of this effort, the brand is deploying a digital-first campaign to reach customers near participating locations. Shoppers will be directed to a dedicated landing page where they can learn more about the brand's mission, explore the new offering, and share feedback on where they'd like to see BLK & Bold stocked next.
The coinciding campaign encourages shoppers to visit participating stores and share their experience online for a chance to win a free year of Costco membership. The campaign reflects the brand's continued focus on accessibility and building community through grassroots engagement.
"Working with Costco gives us a platform to deepen our relationship with customers who believe in what we stand for," said Rod Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Values Officer of BLK & Bold. "We see this as a moment to continue growing with purpose and clarity."
BLK & Bold products are now available in over 11,000 retail locations nationwide including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Amazon, and regional grocers. This new presence in Costco reflects the brand's continued momentum, backed by collaborations with cultural icons like Ben & Jerry's, Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, and Marvel.
About BLK & Bold®
BLK & Bold is a Black-owned, nationally distributed specialty coffee company founded in 2018. With a commitment to quality and impact, the brand sources its beans from the world's top growers and donates 5% of profits to nonprofit organizations that serve at-risk youth. BLK & Bold is proud to be a Certified B Corporation and a trusted name in purpose-driven consumer goods.
For more information, please visit blkandbold.com.
About Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates an international chain of membership warehouses, offering brand-name merchandise at competitive prices. Its unique model allows for operational efficiency and high-volume sales across a broad selection of products in a streamlined, no-frills environment.
For more information, visit Costco.com.
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