Founder of Larry’s Beans Named One of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs In The Triangle

Feb. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Larry Larson, founder and CEO of Larry’s Beans, has been named one of the “Top 50 Entrepreneurs” by Business Leader Magazine, recognizing the most influential business leaders in the Triangle.  Larry’s Beans is a Fair Trade Organic coffee roaster based in Raleigh.

Business Leader will honor Larson and others in a ceremony on February 26 in Raleigh and he will be featured in the magazine’s March 2010 issue. The Business Leader has recognized the Triangle’s most prominent business leaders as the “Top 50 Entrepreneurs” since 1996.

“Receiving this award illustrates how important sustainability is for a business,” said Larson.  “Our coffee is 100 percent Fair Trade and our business pursues sustainable methods in every way we can. Being recognized by Business Leader reinforces that we’re doing the right thing.”

Larry’s forward thinking led to the company’s success. As a founding member of Cooperative Coffees, Larson redefined what it means to be a sustainable coffee company. In 2009, he grew the business by 22 percent using new sales and marketing initiatives and donated over one percent of revenue to local organizations such as the Raleigh Rescue Mission and Carolina Rollergirls. He is now partnering with the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church to send kids to camp.  But it doesn’t stop there.  Larry has green-o-vated his roasting facility to include passive and active solar, uses a veggie-oil powered delivery bus, rainwater flush toilets, and hosts Raleigh’s only bio-100 pumping station.

“I have an outstanding team that helps make Larry’s Beans successful.” Larson said. “We share the same vision. Employees have done a tremendous amount to get the company where it is today.”
About Larry’s Beans
Since 1994 the mission of Larry’s Beans has been to find the best coffees in the world and roast them with precision and artistry. The company is a founding member of Cooperative Coffees, the first and only group of independent coffee roasters that buys green beans directly from Fair Trade coffee co-ops.
Larry’s Beans builds Fair Trade relationships with small farm cooperatives, buys only Organic, Shade Grown coffees and supports farming partners in practicing sustainable farming methods. Larry’s Beans cultivates relationships that benefit people, animals, and the environment. In 2006, Larry’s Beans was the recipient of the NC Sustainability for triple-bottom line business. For more information, please visit www.larrysbeans.com .