The Short Answer: Larry’s Coffee is 100% independent and family-owned by Jessie Lotrecchiano and Husband Sandro Niessen. Larry's hasen't sold out to a massive conglomerate or a private equity firm. The company is owned and operated right here in Raleigh by Jessie Lotrecchiano and Sandro Neissen, a husband-and-wife team who live in the community and work on site!
We Are Still "Us"
In the coffee world and beyond there is a trend called "The illusion of choice.” You see 10 different “craft” coffee brands on the shelf, but if you look at the fine print, 8 of them are owned by the same massive holding company.
Sandro and Jessie are running the day to day operations over at Larry’s alongside their hardworking team. They bought this company because they believe in the mission Larry Larson started: Organic, Fair Trade, and Sustainable Coffee & business as force for good. We didn't buy it to flip it; we bought it to steward it. The coffee is delicious and we wanted to see it live on for another 30 years!
Meet the "Management Team"
Who are the people making the decisions?
-
Sandro Neissen: He’s the operations and inventor brain. He’s the one obsessing over the solar panels, reviving biodiesel vans, all while making sure production is running smoothly and the Cowboy Blend tastes exactly the same today as it did five years ago.
-
Jessie Lotrecchiano: She is the head honcho in charge and the creative heart. Jessie ensures our employees are happy, our wholesale clients are stocked, and ensures that we never lose that "funky" Five Points vibe that makes Larry's special.
-
The Team: We are not a faceless corp. We have a team of 12 employees and we work right alongside them!
Why Independence Matters for Your Cup
Why should you care who signs the checks? Because ownership dictates quality.
-
No cutting corners: A big corporation would look at our "100% Organic" commitment and say, "Hey, we could save millions if we switched to non-organic." Because we are independent, we can say, "That’s not who we are.”
-
Long-Term Vision: We are not trying to pump up the stock price for next quarter. We are trying to build a company that will be here for the next generation. That means we can invest in long-term relationships with farmers (via the 3% Impact Fund) that a CFO would probably cut.
-
Community Focus: We can support local causes like the Foundation of Hope (via the Bad Kitty Dark Roast) because we live here and see the impact.
The Verdict from Five Points
We are proud to be a "Mom and Pop" operation—even if the "Pop" is running a commercial roaster and the "Mom" is handling a national brand.
When you drink Larry's, you are supporting a local family, a local team, and a global network of farmers. You aren't padding the pockets of a hedge fund.
I love when people stop in the shop and grab their favorite blend to bring to their family beach week and seeing a customer in the store grab a bag of Larry’s off the shelf. I have always looked forward to my cup of coffee in the morning and I’m tickled that our coffee is how so many people choose to start their days!