321 Coffee Expands Statewide into 500+ Food Lion Stores
Celebrating another major milestone for disability representation in a leading grocery store chain.
Lindsay Wrege, Co-Founder & CEO of 321 Coffee, is joined by baristas as they hold a “representation matters” flag alongside their coffee in a local Food Lion.
Raleigh, N.C. (October 1, 2024) – 321 Coffee, the trailblazing Raleigh-based coffee shop and roaster dedicated to workforce inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is proud to announce its expansion into Food Lion grocery stores across the entire state of North Carolina. This statewide growth into more than 500 grocery stores marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to build a more inclusive future, bringing 321 Coffee’s specialty roasts to communities across the whole state.
Food Lion will now carry three of 321 Coffee’s most popular roast varieties:
Elevate: A medium roast single origin from Peru with a smooth, sweet flavor.
Uplift: A dark roast single origin from Honduras, featuring rich cocoa and caramel notes.
Greater Good: A medium roast single origin from Guatemala, developed in collaboration with NC State University.
Bags of 321 Coffee can now be found on the shelves of the “Local Goodness” section of North Carolina Food Lion stores.
The statewide expansion represents the company’s next bold stride in promoting disability inclusion and representation on grocery store shelves, following their launch in prominent grocery store chain Whole Foods Market within the Triangle region stores earlier in 2024. By making specialty coffee roasted by individuals with disabilities available in a mainstream grocery setting, 321 Coffee is committed to promoting workplace inclusion beyond the walls of its own brick-and-mortar coffee shops in the Triangle and demonstrating the power of an inclusive business model.
“This partnership with Food Lion is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the value of inclusion while expanding access to our coffee,” said Lindsay Wrege, Co-founder and CEO of 321 Coffee. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: We believe in the power of representation. With this launch in Food Lion, individuals with disabilities can see themselves represented in stores statewide. This is about so much more than coffee—it’s about creating a more inclusive future.”
Every bag of 321 Coffee features a member of the 321 Coffee barista or roasting team, highlighting their contributions to the workplace.
321 Coffee’s packaging is thoughtfully designed to showcase the names, sketches, and quotes of the barista and roasting team, intentionally highlighting the valuable contributions of individuals with disabilities. Shoppers across the state now have the opportunity to enjoy the exceptional taste of 321 Coffee's specialty roasts while simultaneously supporting their vision for a more inclusive future. 321 Coffee eagerly anticipates building new relationships with customers who share a passion for great coffee and social responsibility.
For more information about 321 Coffee, please visit 321coffee.com. To find 321 Coffee at a Food Lion near you, please visit 321coffee.com/product-locator.
About 321 Coffee
321 Coffee is a coffee shop and roaster focusing on workforce inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Located in Raleigh, the company currently employs over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 321 baristas do it all: roasting the coffee, taking the orders, making the lattes. Together they are demonstrating the value of an inclusive business model. Launched in 2017, the company is on a mission to change the statistic that 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed.
Interested in enjoying 321 Coffee at your home, place of business, or next event? Shop the online store at shop.321coffee.com, submit a wholesale inquiry to partner@321coffee.com, or submit an event request to catering@321coffee.com.
Media Contact
Lindsay Wrege
321 Coffee
partner@321coffee.com