MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 11, 2016 — FedEx announced today that Ginjan Bros, LLC — a beverage company that develops and brings to market traditional African beverages — is the grand prize winner of its fourth annual FedEx Small Business Grant Contest. Based in Harlem, New York, Ginjan Bros, LLC will receive a $25,000 grant to help them with working capital to fill their orders, get their product certified as “Organic” and “Non-GMO”, and for product marketing initiatives, all of which will allow them to meet the growing demand for their product.
“This year we saw a wide variety of entrants from various industries, all of which embody a true passion for their business,” said Becky Huling, vice president of Customer Engagement Marketing. “We’re excited for Ginjan Bros, LLC to take this next step and to see their business continue to grow and scale.”
Ginjan Bros, LLC is run by two brothers, Mohammed and Ibrahima Diallo, who moved to the United States from Africa in their early teens. The Diallo brothers say that one of the only connections they had with their culture has been through foods and beverages, which is how Ginjan Bros, LLC was born. The juice is crafted from a 1,000-year-old West African recipe that their mother used to make for them growing up. It’s made using organic and non-GMO ingredients. Currently, 30 locations carry the juice and they are set to launch more than 350 additional accounts. The long-term view for Ginjan Bros, LLC is to be able to source raw goods from small farmers in Africa to help them with market access.
“My brother and I are thrilled to have won the FedEx Small Business Grant contest and we can’t wait to put the grant to use and take our business to the next level,” said Mohammed Diallo, CEO of Ginjan Bros, LLC. “This money will help us fill orders after we launch more than 350 accounts by summer’s end, and it will also go towards getting our Organic and non-GMO certifications, and for product marketing.”
In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, FedEx awarded one $15,000 grant and eight $7,500 grants – the largest prize pool since the inception of the contest in 2013.
- LuminAID, $15K winner (Chicago, IL)
- Artlifting (Boston, MA)
- Gina Cucina (Carbondale, CO)
- MM Clay (San Francisco, CA)
- Ariel Brands/ Art by Keturah Ariel (Columbus, OH)
- CatastrophiCreations (Byron Center, MI)
- Hed Cycling (Roseville, MN)
- The Wok Shop (San Francisco, CA)
- The Groomsman Suit (Astoria, NY)
The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest offers significant opportunity for small businesses across the United States to share their inspirational stories and achieve national recognition while simultaneously rallying support from local communities to grow their businesses.
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