CBIA BizCast: Brewing Family Business Success

If you ask Omar Coffee CEO Nicholas Bokron how to run a successful, fourth-generation business, he’ll tell you about the core values posted on the walls around his company.

“Trust, not tricks” is one of them.

“Generally, the coffee business is about on-going relationships, so it’s very important to take care of issues and make them right,” Bokron said.

“People need to trust and rely on you.”

Bokron recently sat down to talk about all things coffee—and his family’s always-evolving 88-year-old business—with first-time CBIA BizCast guest host Ari Santiago, well-known for his Made in America podcast series.

Family Business

Founded in 1937 by Bokron’s great-grandfather John Costas, Omar Coffee started in Hartford’s South End.

Over the years, it gradually grew into a regional company that roasts raw coffee beans, then sells, packs and distributes them to customers throughout the Northeast and beyond.

“We’ll give you everything you need to get set up and get brewing.”

Omar Coffee’s Nicholas Bokron

Omar also provides and services coffee brewing equipment for food service establishments.

On the retail side, Omar sells its coffee online.

“We’ll give you everything you need to get set up and get brewing so you can sell coffee by the cup,” Bokron said.

Family Values

In line with its business culture and family values, Bokron says when it comes to hiring new employees, the first thing the company looks for is character.

“If someone has the right attitude, shows up at the right time, day in and day out, and they’re reliable, then we’ll try to give them the appropriate skills, whether its manufacturing, sales, or service,” he said.

The family’s values and strong culture built on hard work and integrity run deep at Omar.

“If someone has the right attitude, then we’ll try to give them the appropriate skills.”

Bokron

“We’re big believers of training from within,” he said.

“There are people who work at Omar now whose parents worked for my grandfather.

“They share the same connection and affinity to the business because it means more to them than just a job.”

Long-Term Perspective

When it comes to keeping a family business evolving with the times—and staying competitive regardless of industry trends—Bokron said he’s learned to maintain a long-term perspective.

“My grandfather taught me you just sort of have to remain steady,” he said.

“We have to remain steady because we have a long-term focus.”

Bokron

“Good things are going to happen, and bad things are going to happen.

“So I feel like it’s my responsibility to take the information in, try to solve the problems, and remain cool, calm and collected.

“I mean after all we’re making coffee here. We have to remain steady because we have a long-term focus.”

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