Michele's Syrups: Chicago's Only African American Owned Syrup Company

Michele’s Syrups is the only African American owned breakfast, pancake and waffle Syrup company.
Michele’s Syrups is the only African American owned breakfast, pancake and waffle Syrup company.

African American shoppers have been lead to believe Aunt Jemima and some other syrups are African American products. Many are looking for products that really are African American. The answer is speaking the truth about how we have been purposely subject to misleading advertising and stories.

It matters to me and it needs to matter to all African American companies. We need to know about the products and the companies we buy to make conscious, informed buying decisions. When African Americans use their buying power to buy African American made products we grow and thrive. The community is very entrepreneurial and young African American entrepreneurs need to see and know they have their community's support.

When I started, I was on welfare and had 3 children to support by myself. I wanted to be part of the 1980s decade of women. I was not going to live on welfare so I took something I grew up and loved and with no money set out to build business. Everyone thought I had lost my mind."

I now know that losing your mind is one of the steps to entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs need to step out on their own. The future is with our communities creating businesses and jobs in our communities. It means giving our young people and all our people a way to work, make money, raise families and thrive right in our own communities on our own. It starts by conscious buying and buying our own African American made products and services from our own companies.

Find Michele's Gourmet Syrups, in Chicago in Jewels, Dominick's, Meyers, Ultra, Wats, Pete's Produce, Mariano's or online at www.michelefoods.com.

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