Lecture Description
Every year, roughly a million independent cafés purchase tens of billions of dollars’ worth of coffee-adjacent products. These products are meant to complement the work of the barista community, a hive of some of the most thoughtful, innovative operators in the world. Yet despite the community’s outsized contributions to the broader F&B world, it has had essentially zero involvement in creating these products; baristas are largely left out of the process and they capture little-to-no economic value within it. That should change.
In this lecture, we’ll explore how the industry arrived here, how products flow into cafes, and chart a path toward a supply ecosystem of CPG brands that truly represent — and are owned by — the best our community has to offer.
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am
Location: Room 23BC
Category: Business
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a World of Coffee entry badge. Register to attend World of Coffee here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Michelle R. Johnson-Strickland
CEO, Ghost Town Oats
Michelle R. Johnson-Strickland is the co-founder and CEO of Ghost Town Oats, an award-winning premium oat milk brand made by baristas. She is also the creator of The Chocolate Barista, the foremost platform amplifying Black voices in specialty coffee. A seasoned coffee professional with over a decade of experience, Michelle’s journey from behind the bar to leading a disruptive brand is fueled by a deep commitment to equity, authenticity, and freedom—values that have shaped every step of her career.
Bryan Harmer Hasho
Co-Founder, The Usual Company
Bryan Harmer Hasho is a Co-Founder of The Usual Company. After spending time in wholesale at Blue Bottle Coffee, he co-founded NYC’s Stand Coffee and went on to be employee one at Oatly North America where he spent seven years leading Oatly’s presence in the coffee channel.