A Black-and-veteran-owned chocolate business in Southern Maryland evolved from a military deployment that kept a woman away from her daughter for more than a year.
A 13-month deployment was much too long for Thereasa Black and inspired her to change her life and be her own boss.
“I graduated from GW Law School, and then about six months later, I was deployed to Djibouti, and I left one week before my daughter’s 2nd birthday,” she said. “I literally cried every single day that I was gone, and I knew I could never leave her again.”
She made good on that promise. First, she started a gelato business. Then she pivoted to making and selling chocolate.
Bon AppeSweet is plant based, date-sweetened chocolate made from scratch at Black’s factory in St. Mary’s County.
“The reality is that our chocolate is not only organic, no fillers, you know,” she said. “It has all these healthy ingredients but it tastes exactly like the stuff people are used to eating.”
Black’s business recently got a boost after she appeared on “Shark Tank” last month, walking away with a partnership. Details are still being worked out, but Black says she hopes it results in her product being distributed to more stores and retailers.
“Had I not told them it was dairy-free, had I not told them that it had no added sugar, they wouldn’t have known,” she said. “And actually, that’s the best part about it is, like, it tastes exactly like traditional chocolate.”
Black says she faced challenges starting her business with her own resources, operating in a natural food space and an industry where there aren’t a lot of people of color, and doing it as a single mom.
“I got pregnant in law school,” she said. “As a single mom, I still graduated on time, I still got out there and started my business. And you know what? A lot of people told me that I wouldn’t be able to do it, graduate law school and start my business with a child and being by myself. But you know what? I did.”
The business allows her to be the active parent she wants to be.
“The best part about it is, like, when she has something at school, I’m able to just go and volunteer as a parent,” Black said. “Her friends know who I am. Like, I walk into the school and they’re like, ‘Oh, Isabella’s mom.’”
Bon AppeSweet products are in Walmart, Whole Foods and Mom’s Organic markets. They’re also available online through Black’s website and Amazon.
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