321 Coffee Launches in Whole Foods Market Across the Triangle

Celebrating a major milestone for disability representation in a leading grocery store chain.

Members of the 321 Coffee team celebrate in front of the Whole Foods Market on Wade Avenue on launch day!

Raleigh, N.C. (June 13, 2024) – 321 Coffee, the trailblazing local coffee shop and roaster dedicated to workforce inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is proud to announce the official launch of its coffee at Whole Foods Market. This expansion signifies a meaningful step in the company's journey towards fostering a more inclusive future, starting with the aisles of local grocery stores and paving the way for national scalability.

Whole Foods Market, a leading national grocery chain, will now carry bags of 321 Coffee at all six locations across the Triangle region of North Carolina, including the Raleigh, North Raleigh, Cary, West Cary, Durham, and Chapel Hill markets. The following four 321 Coffee roast varieties will be available:

Rise: A light roast from Ethiopia with a vibrant floral and honey flavor profile.
Elevate: A medium roast sourced from Peru, delivering a silky and sweet taste.
Uplift: A dark roast from Honduras, known for its robust cocoa and caramel character.
Greater Good: A medium roast from Guatemala, released in 2023 in partnership with North Carolina State University.

This expansion represents another bold stride in promoting disability inclusion and representation on grocery store shelves, following the launch of 321 Coffee in the local grocery store chain, Weaver Street Market, in the fall of 2023. The packaging is thoughtfully designed to showcase the names, sketches, and quotes of the 321 Coffee barista and roasting team, highlighting the valuable contributions of individuals with disabilities.

"We believe in the power of representation. I want people with disabilities to be able to walk down the aisles of grocery stores and see a product that represents them. That started with our launch in Weaver Street Market last year, and now it’s happening on an even larger scale in Whole Foods!" says Lindsay Wrege, Co-founder and CEO of 321 Coffee. "We’re so excited for the potential to grow beyond this first set of stores because this is about way more than coffee; it's about creating a more inclusive future."

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 brick-and-mortar coffee shops in Raleigh and Durham.

This expansion into Whole Foods Market highlights the growing demand for quality products that positively impact the community and underscores the potential for scalability. Shoppers at Whole Foods Market now have the opportunity to support 321 Coffee’s mission for inclusion with every purchase, enjoying the exceptional taste of 321 Coffee's specialty roasts while simultaneously contributing to a more inclusive future. 321 Coffee eagerly anticipates building new relationships with customers who share a passion for great coffee and social responsibility.

Baristas Rene and Aaron beam with pride with their sketches featured on the back of the Elevate coffee bag inside Whole Foods.

For more information about 321 Coffee, please visit 321coffee.com. To find 321 Coffee at a Whole Foods Market near you, please visit 321coffee.com/product-locator.

Participating Whole Foods Locations:

Raleigh - 3540 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607
North Raleigh - 8710 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615
Cary - 102B New Waverly Place, Cary, NC 27518
West Cary - 5055 Arco Street, Cary, NC 27519
Durham - 621 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705
Chapel Hill - 81 S Elliot Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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