A Scotch Bonnet Pepper Shortage Has The Caribbean Hot Sauce Industry In A Chokehold
Producers in Jamaica and Antigua report that back-to-back hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and agricultural weaknesses have made it harder to obtain the peppers
A shortage of Scotch bonnet peppers, a key ingredient in many Caribbean hot sauces, is causing problems for manufacturers across the region. Extreme weather, crop diseases, and pests are reducing harvests and increasing production costs.
Hot sauce producers in Jamaica and Antigua report that back-to-back hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and agricultural weaknesses have made it harder to obtain Scotch bonnet. This supply issue arises as global demand for Caribbean-style hot sauces continues to grow, with many sold in major international retailers such as Walmart, Tesco, and Woolworths (Australia), according to the BBC.
Jamaica-based Associated Manufacturers, which produces the Walkerswood brand, claims losses from weather-related issues have already impacted its operations.
“We were hugely limited, and we had to cancel orders,” Sean Garbutt of Walkerswood told the BBC.
Garbutt mentioned that many farmers switched to more resilient crops after hurricane damage, which reduced Scotch bonnet production.
The company exports over 95% of its products, with about two-thirds going to the United States. Garbutt emphasized that maintaining the signature appearance and heat level of their Scotch bonnet sauce relies on a steady supply of fresh yellow peppers.
Climate-related disruptions have also impacted other manufacturers. Drew Gray, whose family operates Gray’s Pepper in Jamaica, told the BBC that “back-to-back hurricanes wiped off most of the crop, so product has been scarce.”
“Right after Melissa, Scotch bonnets went up maybe 10-fold,” Gray said. “Over the last two years, there’s been an overall increase of about 40% to 50%.”
Agricultural officials say the challenges go beyond weather. Dwight Forrester of Jamaica’s Rural Agricultural Development Authority claims Scotch bonnets are susceptible to viruses and pests, including gall midges, despite being one of the country’s most critical export crops.
To tackle the problem, Jamaica’s government has provided Scotch bonnet seeds to hundreds of farmers. Meanwhile, some manufacturers are investing in research to develop more resilient pepper varieties. Others are diversifying production by incorporating different peppers that can better handle changing climate conditions.
Rising Tide Capital Appoints Visionary Leader, Dr. Joynicole Martinez, Its New CEO
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Dr. Joynicole Martinez, the new CEO of Rising Tide Capital (RTC), for an important conversation about how the company’s vision will advance under her extraordinary leadership. RTC is a national nonprofit expanding access to entrepreneurship and building economic resilience through business ownership. Since its founding, the company has empowered over 11,000 entrepreneurs through its Community Business Academy and advisory services, helping launch businesses that generate millions in economic activity and create jobs in underserved communities nationwide.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: How have your previous roles and achievements prepared you for the position of CEO of Rising Tide Capital (RTC)?
Dr. Joynicole Martine: My career has always centered on service, healing, and advancing public health in mission-driven organizations. Over 25 years, I’ve worked as an epidemiologist and nonprofit leader, focusing on fundraising, strategy, and operations across sectors such as healthcare, housing, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and economic mobility. These roles have taught me how to balance vision with execution—skills I now apply as CEO of RTC to drive our strategic growth and foster inclusive entrepreneurship.
I started at RTC as a consultant, then became chief advancement and innovation officer, and most recently served as president. In these roles, I led major funding proposals, built key partnerships, and helped develop a scalable model for entrepreneurship support. Seeing RTC’s positive impact on entrepreneurs and communities inspired me to guide the organization through its next phase of growth and ensure our mission thrives.
The Future of Rising Tide Capital
What is your vision for the future of RTC?
My vision is for RTC to become the nation’s most trusted and effective entrepreneurship support organization for under-resourced communities, anchored in New Jersey but expanding through a network of national partners. We will deepen our core offerings—comprehensive curricula, individualized coaching, access to capital, and a strong alumni community—while building the infrastructure to support more partners and clients nationwide.
To drive growth and innovation, I will:
Strengthen core programs with clear pathways from education to capital to revenue growth and job creation.
Invest in data, technology, and curriculum innovation to personalize learning and quickly respond to entrepreneurs’ needs.
Grow the Rising Tide Network thoughtfully, supporting each partner with high-quality training, technical assistance, and impact measurement.
How do you balance risk management in today’s rapidly evolving business environment?
Responsible leadership means balancing risk and opportunity. At RTC, we take programmatic and innovation risks to expand our impact, but remain conservative and transparent with financial risk. My approach combines deep listening, scenario planning, and clear decision thresholds. Before any major initiative, we model financial and impact scenarios, define minimum requirements, and agree on metrics for success or pivot. We foster a culture where raising concerns is seen as stewardship, encouraging open dialogue about risk.
Rising Tide Capital Appoints Visionary Leader, Dr. Joynicole Martinez, as Its New CEO
Strategic Leadership Approach
What strategies will you employ to foster a culture that thrives and prioritizes psychological safety?
Rising Tide’s unique culture is anchored in our core values and an intentional rhythm of business, including regular reflection and self-care days. I model vulnerability and transparency, creating space for dissenting views and learning from mistakes. We prioritize cross-team collaboration, design sprints, learning labs, and post-mortems focused on learning, not blame. Our recognition systems celebrate experimentation and learning, and our FeedForward planning approach encourages bold, creative thinking.
How do you plan to capitalize on new market opportunities while maintaining core business stability?
RTC operates at a pivotal moment for entrepreneurship support, especially for women, people of color, first-generation Americans, and those from low-income communities. We conduct rigorous landscape reviews, seek champions in new markets, and phase growth based on partner readiness, community engagement, and early funding commitments. This ensures we capitalize on momentum without diluting what makes RTC unique.
What is your approach to leading diverse, high-performing teams in this dynamic environment?
A diverse, high-performing team is essential for our mission. I focus on equity at the decision-making table, clarity in roles and goals, and ongoing professional development. We ensure staff and leadership reflect the communities we serve, and I stay accessible and engaged with team members and entrepreneurs alike. This approach builds trust, agency, and effective decision-making.
Measure of Success
Which success metrics are most important, and how do they align with the organization’s mission?
We use a mix of quantitative and qualitative metrics, including business launch and survival rates, revenue growth, household income changes, job creation, and access to capital. At the network level, we measure the diversity and scale of the entrepreneur community, Net Promoter Scores, qualitative feedback, financial health, and partner performance. Every metric is tied to advancing equitable economic mobility and community wealth.
What challenges do you anticipate facing as you step into this role, and how do you plan to address them?
Key challenges include balancing growth with financial sustainability, managing organizational change, and navigating a shifting philanthropic landscape. I plan to address these through transparent planning, intentional change management, and open communication with the team, board, and partners. Our leadership team’s careful preparation for this transition provides a strong foundation for facing these challenges together.
What is your best advice for someone considering leadership at this level? Lessons learned?
Be clear on your “why.” Personal mission sustains you through challenges.
Build a feedback ecosystem with people who tell you the truth.
Hold paradox: be visionary yet pragmatic, urgent yet patient, data-driven yet human.
Leadership is a practice, not a title. Effectiveness is measured by the trust you build and the outcomes you deliver, not the perfection of your plans.
RICE Brings Business Leaders, Creatives, Entrepreneurs Together For ‘Expression In Every Color’ Event
The program, called “Expression In Every Color,” is part of RICE’s monthly First Friday Workshop Series.
The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) will bring together business leaders, creatives, and community advocates on June 5 for a full-day event aimed at helping entrepreneurs strengthen their brands, grow their networks, and explore how authentic self-expression plays a role in business development.
The program, called “Expression In Every Color,” is part of RICE’s monthly First Friday Workshop Series. It will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the organization’s headquarters in Atlanta. Organizers say the event will focus on the links between creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and leadership while offering practical tools for business growth.
According to RICE, the workshop series supports over 300 entrepreneurs every month and connects founders with corporate leaders, industry experts, and community partners. The June event will include educational sessions on marketing, finance, legal strategy, operations, human resources, and business development.
A key part of the event will be the “Expression In Every Color” keynote panel. This panel will cover topics like inclusive leadership, creative ownership, entrepreneurship, and building authentic careers. The scheduled panelists include Justin Carter, Shanti Das, Sade Ayodele, Matt Westmoreland, and entertainment attorney Vince Phillips.
In addition to panel discussions, attendees will find workshops on brand storytelling, AI tools for entrepreneurs, workplace culture, revenue generation strategies, legal protections for businesses, and financial literacy. Organizers also plan to host networking opportunities, a pitch competition, and resource exhibits to connect founders with potential partners and support organizations.
RICE, founded in honor of Atlanta business leader Herman J. Russell, describes itself as an organization focused on economic mobility. It aims to help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, create jobs, and generate wealth in their communities. The center states its mission is to support innovation and long-term success, especially among underrepresented founders.
You can currently register for the June 5 event through the organization’s website.
Worth The Stop: ‘The Oxtail Off’ Traveling Food Festival
Founded by Charles Beloved and Shireen Kuykendoll, the event has evolved into a traveling food festival centered on oxtail culture and Black culinary traditions.
The smell of slow-cooked oxtail, Caribbean spices, and grilled comfort food filled downtown Los Angeles on May 24, as Black-owned ‘The Oxtail Off’ returned for an exciting culinary competition and cultural celebration that highlighted food traditions from the African diaspora.
The LA stop for the festival took place at Rolling Greens DTLA. It combined food tastings, live entertainment, and chef competitions while raising money to fight food insecurity in local communities. Organizers mentioned that the proceeds and sponsor contributions from the event would help support nonprofit efforts addressing hunger in Los Angeles.
Founded by Charles Beloved and Shireen Kuykendoll, the event has evolved into a traveling food festival centered on oxtail culture, Black culinary traditions, and community involvement. The festival featured celebrity musicians, influencers, chefs, and food vendors serving Caribbean, African, Southern, and Afro-Latino-inspired dishes, along with vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian options.
Source: Celebrity Influencer Judges and Chefs
photo credit: J Martin Visuals/ The Oxtail Off
“The Oxtail Off was born in the most organic way possible, in me and my wife’s home in Los Angeles, surrounded by close friends, music, laughter, and a friendly debate over who could make the best oxtail. It wasn’t an event; it was a house party. People came as they were, brought their full selves, and shared home‑cooked meals that carried family stories, cultural pride, and generational flavor. That intimacy and feeling of walking into a space where you instantly belong became the foundation of everything we built. What started as a backyard competition has now grown into a five‑city tour, but we’ve never let go of the original energy. Every stop still feels like stepping into someone’s home: warm, familiar, unpretentious, and full of connection,” Beloved remarked.
Organizers portrayed the event as more than just a food competition. They presented oxtail as a cultural staple linked to resilience, heritage, and creativity across the diaspora. Attendees tasted competing dishes while DJs played soca, R&B, and hip-hop throughout the afternoon and evening.
Source: photo credit: J Martin Visuals/ The Oxtail Off
The chef competition had significant rewards. Organizers stated that the grand prize included $3,000 in cash and a trip for two to Barbados’ Crop Over festival this summer.
“This past weekend in Los Angeles was a powerful reminder of why we started. More than 1,700 people showed up, not just for the food, but for the feeling. We awarded $5,000 to Food Cycle LA to support their work fighting food insecurity, and $3,000 to our winning chef, Chef Jazzy, whose dish and presence lit up the crowd. But the real story was the way communities and cultures came together. Strangers became family. People reunited with friends they hadn’t seen in years. New relationships formed over shared plates and shared memories. It felt like a homecoming, a class reunion, and a cultural celebration all at once.”
Beyond celebrating food and music, organizers highlighted philanthropy as an essential mission of the festival. Over $5K was donated to Food Cycle LA , a local nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity.
Source: photo credit: J Martin Visuals/ The Oxtail Off
“The Oxtail Off” is expected to continue expanding nationally, with more tour stops planned throughout 2026.
Seneca Connor Launches Platform That Scores Brands On Their Commitment To The Black Community
New App and Browser Extension Scores 800+ Companies
Originally published on BlackNews.com.
Seneca Connor, an African American attorney and entrepreneur from Northern California, has officially launched Reckond, a first-of-its-kind consumer accountability platform that scores major brands on their real commitment to the Black community. It also surfaces verified Black-owned business alternatives at the point of purchase. Available today as a mobile app for iOS and as a browser extension for Chrome and Safari, Reckond launches with more than 800 companies scored across seven dimensions of community commitment and a free directory of more than 1,300 verified Black-owned businesses.
Black consumers represent more than $2.2 trillion in annual spending — a force that moves markets and shapes industries. Yet the vast majority of that spending flows to companies with little accountability for their records on workforce diversity, supplier diversity, community investment, and racial equity. At the same time, corporate rollbacks of DEI commitments are accelerating across Fortune 500 companies, leaving consumers with limited tools to separate genuine commitment from marketing language. Reckond was built to close that gap.
How It Works
Reckond evaluates companies across seven publicly documented dimensions using verifiable data sources, including EEOC filings, FEC political contribution records, supplier diversity disclosures, the NAACP Black Consumer Advisory, and the As You Sow Racial Justice Scorecard. Each brand receives a score from 0 to 100 and a letter grade from A through F, and is curved based on the entire brand population. Scores are editorial opinion, generated through an independent, attorney-built methodology, and are not for sale.
When a consumer searches for a brand in the Reckond mobile app or visits a brand’s product page while using the Reckond browser extension, they see the brand’s Reckond Score and are shown verified Black-owned alternatives in the same product category. Every click goes directly to the Black-owned business’s own website. Reckond does not capture transactions or retain commission on sales.
Scoring Dimension/ What Is Evaluated:
Workforce Diversity: Black representation at entry, management, executive, and board levels
Supplier Diversity: Documented spend with Black-owned and minority-owned suppliers
Political Alignment: Political contribution history and alignment with Black community interests
Crisis Response: How the brand has responded to racial justice moments and community crises
Black Spending & Investment: Tracks whether the company directs real money toward Black communities — through advertising spend with Black-owned media, investment in Black entrepreneurs, HBCU endowments, or community development funds. Pledges without disbursement count against a brand.
Legal Record: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing record and documented discrimination lawsuits and settlements.
Community Investment: Looks at ongoing structural investment in Black communities – not crisis-driven-pledges. This includes partnerships with HBCUs, presence in Black neighborhoods, support for Black cultural institutions, and employee volunteerism or matching programs directed at Black causes.
The Free Black-Owned Business Directory
Reckond’s directory of Black-owned businesses is completely free for every business listed — at launch and permanently. Black-owned businesses are the beneficiaries of the Reckond platform, not its revenue source. There are no listing fees, no platform charges, and no commissions collected on sales. Reckond drives consumer traffic directly to each business’s own website. The directory launches with more than 1,300 verified Black-owned businesses across fashion, beauty, food and beverage, home goods, financial services, tech, and more.
About the Founder Reckond was founded by Seneca Connor, a licensed California attorney and MBA holder who built the platform’s scoring methodology, legal framework, and evidentiary standards herself. Connor is also the founder and CEO of The Bag Icon LLC, an accessible luxury accessories brand that has earned editorial coverage in Black Enterprise, Business Insider, Yahoo, and Essence, and the creator of The Spotlight Program, an Instagram feature series that highlights Black-owned brands at no cost. Reckond is the technology infrastructure for a mission Connor has pursued across her entire career: ensuring that the Black dollar lands where it belongs.
Reckond is available now via the website, Reckond.com, and can also be downloaded from the Apple iOS App Store. It will be available on the Google Play Store in June 2026.
New focus-group research suggests many Black men are turning to podcasters, YouTube, and independent creators for news
A new focus group study suggests that a growing number of Black men are becoming increasingly frustrated with traditional news media and are instead choosing to get their information from podcasts, YouTube personalities, and independent content creators.
The findings come from recent focus groups conducted by Navigator Research, which surveyed Black voters who either supported President Joe Biden in 2020 before voting for President Donald Trump in 2024 or who identify as Democrats who feel disengaged from the political process.
Many participants expressed growing economic concerns, citing rising prices for groceries, housing, healthcare, and gas as major sources of stress.
The study also found that more Black men don’t trust mainstream media. According to HuffPost, participants described traditional television news outlets as increasingly biased or disconnected from their lives. As a result, many rely on social media, YouTube, podcasts, and independent commentators to stay informed. Several respondents mentioned personalities such as Joe Rogan and Roland Martin as trusted sources for news and analysis.
“I used to watch a lot of mainstream news, but they’ve been bought out,” a 45-year-old Black man from Decatur, Georgia, told HuffPost. “I go on YouTube, watch a lot of podcasters, independent — Joe Rogan, Meidas Touch. I watch everything.”
A 55-year-old Black man from Atlanta echoed that sentiment, arguing that legacy media outlets “seems more controlled now. The big news outlets seem more controlled in what they can release to the public.”
Another participant from Detroit mentioned that even though he primarily gets his news from YouTube and podcasters like Joe Rogan, he trusts his local FOX station. “I don’t believe half the stuff that CNN puts out,” he said.
Many participants placed responsibility for the nation’s current challenges on President Trump, citing what they described as ineffective leadership and a lack of focus on the needs of everyday Americans.
“I didn’t agree with Obama on everything, but he is an example of a good leader,” said one participant from Atlanta. Referencing Trump’s new $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” he added, “As a leader, you don’t put your self-interests first. You put your constituents’ best interests first.”
Black Women Feel The Brunt Of AI Disruption And DEI Rollbacks Disproportionately
Reports suggest Black women are experiencing disproportionate job losses as AI reshapes the workforce and DEI initiatives continue to disappear across corporate America
According to reporting by AFROTECH, Black women have experienced significant job losses amid a broader wave of layoffs, workforce restructuring, and corporate DEI rollbacks. Black women’s unemployment rate climbed to 7.3% in 2026, nearly double the 3.7% unemployment rate reported among white women. Some reports indicate that between February and March alone, approximately 266,000 Black women lost jobs, representing a 2.5% decline in employment, according to Yahoo Finance.
Although higher education and workforce participation have been historically viewed as pathways to economic mobility, the report suggests that even highly educated Black women are struggling to maintain stability. Even though Black women earned 70% of all master’s degrees awarded to Black students during the 2020-2021 academic year, Black women continue to face significant wage disparities.
At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are creating new concerns as employers integrate AI into workplace operations. While AI promises greater efficiency and productivity, experts warn that automation may disproportionately affect workers concentrated in administrative, support, and routine office functions—roles where many women, including Black women, are employed. Research also continues to highlight concerns about algorithmic bias and the exclusion of Black voices and experiences from AI systems.
The impact is also being felt across the federal workforce. According to the report, Black women account for 12.1% of federal employees despite representing just 6.6% of the civilian labor force. As DEI-related offices and administrative departments face cuts, Black women are disproportionately affected.
Data from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found that Black women lost a net total of 113,000 jobs in 2025. At one point, they accounted for more than half of all female job losses despite making up just 14.1% of the female workforce. The impact appears especially pronounced in sectors where Black women have historically been well represented, including education, healthcare, public service, and administrative support. IWPR researchers found that Black women working in federal positions experienced employment declines exceeding 30%, far greater than those experienced by women overall or male workers.
Clarence B. Jones at The Graduate Institute, Geneva, on August 26, 2013 at the WMO offices in Geneva. (Photo Credit: Flickr/U.S. Mission Geneva/Eric Bridiers)
Civil Rights Lawyer And MLK Advisor Clarence B. Jones Dies At 95
The civil rights attorney, strategist, and "I Have A Dream" speechwriter helped shape the movement
Clarence B. Jones, a renowned civil rights attorney, strategist, and longtime confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 95.
Jones passed away on May 22 at an assisted living facility in Cupertino, California, reports CNN. His death marks the loss of one of the last surviving architects of the Civil Rights Movement.
“Our father lived a life of conscience,” said the Jones’ family in a statement released May 26. “He believed, until his final days, that an idea is more powerful than the march of any army. We are grateful beyond words for the love, the prayers, and the friendships that sustained him, and us, across this long and remarkable life.”
Born in Philadelphia in 1931, Jones graduated from Columbia University before earning his law degree from Boston University. Initially pursuing a career in entertainment law, his life took a dramatic turn after meeting King in 1960. Jones joined the civil rights leader’s inner circle and served as his personal attorney, political advisor, and draft speechwriter until King’s assassination in 1968.
Jones is perhaps best known for helping draft King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered during the March on Washington in 1963. He also played a key role in preserving King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” helping smuggle portions of King’s handwritten notes out of jail. Beyond speechwriting, Jones worked on critical legal matters that advanced the movement, including the landmark Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which strengthened First Amendment protections for the press, reports AP News.
Following King’s death, Jones continued his advocacy through media, academia, and public service. He became the first Black allied member of the New York Stock Exchange, served as a negotiator during the 1971 Attica prison uprising, and later taught at both Stanford University and the University of San Francisco.
In 2024, Jones received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his dedication to the fight for civil rights, justice, and democracy for Black Americans.
Robert ‘Kool’ Bell Is Building A Legacy Beyond Music With Le Kool Champagne And Kool King Coconut Water
The Kool & the Gang co-founder discusses Le Kool Champagne, Kool King Coconut Water, generational wealth, and building businesses designed to outlast the music industry.
For generations, Kool & the Gang has been part of the soundtrack for so many special occasions, from weddings and graduations to family reunions and championship parades.
Now, co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell is focused on building something else designed to last: ownership.
Bell has expanded his entrepreneurial footprint with Le Kool Champagne, a luxury champagne brand tied directly to France’s famed Champagne region, where he also owns land. He’s also developing additional ventures, including Kool King Coconut Water and a forthcoming mojito collaboration.
The Business Of Celebration
Unlike many celebrity-backed alcohol brands built around endorsements or licensing agreements, Bell says he was never interested in simply putting his name on a bottle.
“We were in France, we had about 20 sold-out shows,” Bell recalled during a recent conversation with Black Enterprise. “They asked if we wanted to do a champagne with the late Barry White or a Barry White lookalike and one of the Bee Gees.”
Bell immediately saw the situation differently.
“I said, ‘Not really,’” he remembered with a laugh. “I don’t think my fans want to buy a bottle of champagne at no concert. They’re going to want pictures and T-shirts and caps and all that stuff.”
Instead, Bell had a bigger goal in mind.
“I said, ‘I want to get on the shelves,’” he said. “Like Dom Pérignon, Cristal, Veuve Clicquot — all those boys up there in the Champagne region.”
That vision eventually became Le Kool Champagne, developed in partnership with France’s Berthelot family.
“I came up with the name Le Kool because I wanted to have that French vibe,” Bell explained.
Building the brand, however, proved very different from building a music career.
Alcohol distribution requires navigating licensing state by state, something Bell says came with an entirely new learning curve.
“It’s not like having a record, and they play it all across the country,” he said.
Still, Le Kool Champagne has continued expanding through regional partnerships, cruises, and events around the country. Ironically, that also includes appearances aboard the Celebration cruise.
Building Beyond The Music
In many ways, the move into champagne feels like a natural extension of the cultural association Kool & the Gang already built through records like “Ladies’ Night” and “Celebration.”
Bell recalled that “Celebration” itself was inspired by a line from “Ladies’ Night.”
“The tag of ‘Ladies’ Night’ was, ‘Come on, let’s all celebrate,’” Bell explained. “My brother came up with the idea that there was another song in that hook.”
That song became one of the most recognizable party anthems in music history.
But Bell knows longevity in business requires reinvention.
“Champagne is a little harder, of course,” Bell admitted. “The music business is not that easy either.”
He reflected on the early days of Kool & the Gang, when the group was still fighting for mainstream success despite having built strong regional followings.
At one point, Bell said, the group’s label challenged them to stop relying on “territorial hits” and come up with records capable of breaking nationally.
So the group locked themselves inside a downtown New York studio for an all-day writing session.
“We went in there at 8 o’clock in the morning. We came out at midnight,” Bell recalled.
By the end of the session, the group had created “Funky Stuff,” “Jungle Boogie,” and “Hollywood Swinging.”
“No more problems from the record company,” Bell joked.
That same willingness to pivot and evolve now fuels Bell’s business ambitions beyond music.
Source: Kool King Coconut Water
Wellness Meets Legacy
Alongside Le Kool Champagne, Bell is also building Kool King Coconut Water, a wellness-focused beverage brand inspired by an opportunity that emerged through business partners in Thailand.
At the time, Bell admits he was heavily relying on energy drinks to keep up with the demands of touring, travel, and business meetings. That changed quickly after trying the coconut water himself.
“I threw Red Bull out the window,” he said with a laugh.
Now Bell says Kool King Coconut Water has become part of his daily routine. The product is currently available in bottles and cans and has expanded distribution through a deal with BoxNCase.
Carrying The Legacy Forward
But more than anything, Bell’s growing business portfolio reflects a broader mindset shift centered on ownership, diversification, and legacy-building.
That legacy has become increasingly personal.
As the last surviving original member of Kool & the Gang, Bell carries not only the group’s musical history but also the responsibility for helping extend its impact beyond the stage.
“I don’t like to say ‘last man standing,’” Bell admitted while reflecting on the loss of his bandmates.
Instead, Bell prefers to focus on what he’s building with his sons, Muhammad and Hakim. Both are actively involved in the family’s ventures, including the champagne business and the nonprofit, the Kool Kids Foundation.
“Both of them are on top of that,” Bell said proudly.
That generational focus matters deeply to Bell, who says there is an important difference between making money and building something capable of lasting beyond one lifetime.
Whether it’s champagne sourced through France, coconut water developed through international partnerships, or future beverage ventures still in the works, Bell is continuing to expand far beyond the role many fans may expect from a legacy artist.
Even now, after decades in entertainment, Bell still speaks with the curiosity and ambition of someone chasing the next opportunity instead of protecting nostalgia.
“I’m a busy man,” he said.
For Robert “Kool” Bell, success is no longer just about creating timeless records.
It’s about making sure the next generation owns something timeless, too.
Spencer Leak Jr., 3rd-Generation Leader Of Chicago’s Leak & Sons Funeral Homes, Dies At 56
Leak is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Donna, and their daughter, Emma, and son, Spencer III.
Spencer Leak Jr., a third-generation scion and co-leader of Chicago’s Leak & Sons Funeral Homes, died Sunday, May 31, at age 56, according to a statement released by the Leak Family.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the sudden passing of our beloved Spencer Leak, Jr. Spencer was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and a steadfast leader whose presence and wisdom deeply shaped our family and our community,” the family shared in the statement.
“For more than 45 years, Spencer helped lead Leak and Sons Funeral Home — the business founded by his family generations ago and carried forward with his father, Spencer Leak, Sr., and his mother, Henrietta. Alongside his brothers, Stacy and Stephen, he upheld a legacy now spanning three generations and rooted in a simple promise: that every family, regardless of means, deserves to lay their loved ones to rest with dignity. He was a tireless advocate for families who could not afford a burial, a champion of Chicago’s businesses, and a generous mentor to entrepreneurs across our city. Most recently, he was honored to help guide the family’s care for the late Rev. Jesse L. Jackson — an honor rooted in a bond that, like so much of his life’s work, was built on decades of service and trust.”
As a funeral director and vice president of Leak and Sons, Leak Jr. helped to carry the legacy of one of Chicago’s most venerated, multigenerational Black-owned businesses, founded by his grandfather A.R. Leak in 1933, who launched the venture with a $500 loan and an additional $500 he earned as a bathroom attendant at the World’s Fair in Chicago. Today, Leak & Sons comprises three Illinois locations in Chicago, Country Club Hills, and Matteson.
One of Leak’s last public appearances was May 18 at the annual awards fundraiser of the Harold Washington Cultural Center (HWCC), a Black family-owned nonprofit, where, along with his mother, Henrietta Leak, he accepted the HWCC’s Lifetime Impact Award to Children Community and Culture on behalf of his family and Leak & Sons. During his acceptance speech, Leak expressed his proud anticipation of the fourth generation of family business leadership, son Spencer Leak III, a recent graduate of Michigan State University.
“It is impossible to put into words how huge a loss this is for the Leak Family, the city of Chicago, and the generations of families that Leak & Sons has provided compassionate and excellent service to for more than nine decades,” said HWCC Global Director Jimalita Tillman. “Spencer’s heart for and service to our community is of immeasurable impact. I am personally grief-stricken by his sudden and unexpected passing.”
In addition to his parents and son, Leak is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Donna, and their daughter, Emma.
