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Community Coffee

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Community Coffee
Company typePrivate
IndustryCoffee roasting
FoundedBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United States (1919; 105 years ago (1919))
FounderNorman "Cap" Saurage
Products
  • Coffee beverages
Websitecommunitycoffee.com

Community Coffee is a coffee roaster and distributor based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.[1] As of 2005, it was the largest family-owned coffee brand in the United States, controlling 52% of the market in South Louisiana and 72% in Baton Rouge, and employing 850 people.[2] The company has distribution throughout markets in the Southeastern United States.[3][4][5] Community Coffee also has a sponsorship deal with Audacy-owned station WWL-AM.

Paul Petrisko, Community Coffee retail sales representative, setting up promotional display at an event in Cherry Point, N.C.
Paul Petrisko, Community Coffee retail sales representative, setting up promotional display at an event in Cherry Point, N.C.

Community Coffee originated in 1919 when company founder Norman "Cap" Saurage began experimenting with coffee blends at his two grocery stores in downtown Baton Rouge. Demand for the coffee increased to the extent that by 1923, Saurage moved his coffee production to a converted barn, and in 1924, left his grocery business to focus on coffee.[6]

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jim Henson made a series of commercials for Community starring early Muppets characters Wilkins and Wontkins. These were remakes of commercials originally produced for the Wilkins coffee company.[7]

Community Coffee distribution center in Midway, Gadsden County, Florida
Community Coffee distribution center in Midway, Gadsden County, Florida

The company now imports coffee beans from Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico through ports in New Orleans and Houston.[8] Since 1988, it has run a program in which UPC labels from its products can be redeemed for donations to Louisiana schools.[9] In 2002 Community entered into a deal with the Abahuzamugambi farming cooperative in Rwanda, facilitated by the PEARL agricultural program, to purchase Maraba coffee. This was the first direct contract between an African farming cooperative and American coffee roaster.[10]

In 1995, Community Coffee began opening a chain of retail coffeehouses throughout Louisiana. Community also launched stores in Texas and Alabama, however, ventures in neighboring states failed due to the entrenchment of Starbucks and local brands.[2] In 2013, Community spun off its coffee house business into a separate company named CC's Coffee House in order to facilitate out-of-state expansion. CC's remains under the ownership of the Saurage family.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Community Coffee - About Us
  2. ^ a b USATODAY.com - Community Coffee perks up to challenge
  3. ^ Birmingham's cup runneth over as Community Coffee arrives to take on Red Diamond, Royal Cup | AL.com
  4. ^ Community Coffee entering new markets | Business | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
  5. ^ Louisiana's Community Coffee to expand into Birmingham market - Birmingham Business Journal
  6. ^ Community Coffee’s first mill put on display | People | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
  7. ^ "3/13-14/1969 – 'Shoot Community Coffee.'". Henson.com. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ^ Charles Graffeo, Sr.: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee - Inbound Logistics
  9. ^ Community looking to expand its coffee brand | New Orleans CityBusiness
  10. ^ Cup of Good Hope
  11. ^ Community spins off CC's to facilitate out-of-state expansion – On March 1, 2016 Southwest Airlines began serving community coffee to their customers on flights. Archived April 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
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