Introduction

At Time Machine + Folks, culture is at the centre of our passion and work. We are on a mission to build multicultural brands that shine with an international heart and social value.

We believe that there is no future without culture. The diversity of cultures is what has made the world wonderful and each brand unique.

Today, we are going to introduce 5 black-owned food and drink businesses that have inspired us with their stories. They have brought innovation into their heritage, with the memory of their homeland, and an unwavering spirit to make a difference. They have explored their unique cultures to captivate the hearts of modern customers worldwide, extending beyond their own communities.

Inspiration #01:
Matugga Rum: The mixology of Afro-Jamaican tradition and modern craftsmanship from Scotland

Matugga has mastered one of the essences that we all love about Black culture—extremely bold yet completely elegant. The tone of the brand fully embraces a modern spirit whilst bringing cultural symbols to the forefront, offering a sophisticated yet culturally rich tone that will appeal to a wide range of customers!

Matugga drawsinspiration from a rich 'Rum Triad' deeply rooted in the traditions of Jamaican rum-making. This unique blend, which pays homage to Jamaica but also vividly captures the essence of East African culture and flavours, seamlessly interweaves with Scotland's distilling heritage.

With strong connections to Uganda, the Matugga team shares a commitment to supporting the livelihoods of sugar cane growers in East Africa. Their dedication led them to embark on an ambitious venture – establishing a sugar cane plantation on their family-owned land in Matugga. The primary objective of this initiative is to create employment opportunities and provide comprehensive training to local agricultural workers.

Jacine and Paul Rutasikwa, the visionaries behind Matugga, embarked on their venture in 2015 when they introduced a range of rums under their brand.
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At the time, they stood out as one of the first, if not the very first, black-owned spirit brand from the UK.

Their journey into the spirits industry was a profound learning experience as they began with little prior knowledge of the sector aside from being passionate spirits connoisseurs.

The results of their hard work became apparent in 2018 when the duo opened their distillery located in Livingston, West Lothian. Today, they take immense pride in their production process, characterised by a meticulous seven-day fermentation of sugar cane molasses and the maturation of the spirit within ex-bourbon oak casks.
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Inspiration #02:
Blue Turaco Coffee: When passion meets compassion, we see the power to uplift lives

Blue Taraco's design and brand development beautifully encapsulates the honesty, integrity, and passion that shines through from the statement of the founder. It is earthy, organic, and African, yet balanced with a commercial touch and contemporary style that will appeal to Western audiences. It gives us a sense of strength, joy, as well as determination and mission. It is perfect for a brand like Blue Taraco, with a big heart to support the community whilst delivering powerful products for its customers!

Wycliffe Sande, founder of Blue Turaco, is on a mission to make a difference with his ‘economically and socially-sustainable’ coffee brand. For every bag of Ugandan Robusta coffee he sells, the brand funds two meals for a hungry school child in Uganda where all the coffee is sourced exclusively from smallholder farms.

Wycliffe's journey into the coffee industry was not without its challenges, the first - breaking past the gatekeepers and into the industry.

According to him, many black founders, like himself, lack extensive networks within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) field and often struggle to secure the necessary investments.


It was almost inevitable that Wycliffe would find himself working within the coffee industry. When he was only 8 years old he picked coffee beans to support his family. Coffee not only sustained him and his education but it eventually led him to London where he remains based.

He has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of coffee in improving the lives of farming communities, particularly in areas like education and hunger alleviation.

Today, Wycliffe remains actively involved in coffee cultivation in Uganda where the sounds of Blue Turaco birds continue to resonate in the trees. He uses his farms as platforms for educating smallholders on more effective methods for growing and harvesting high-quality Robusta coffee.

Wycliffe is proud to share: "I now cultivate coffee in Uganda and directly purchase from farmers, championing and empowering farming communities by paying 30% more than traditional coffee trade routes.
With each Blue Turaco purchase, we contribute to providing two lunches, combating hunger in Ugandan village schools, and assisting children, like me, in accessing nourishment to stay in school." His dedication provides opportunities for the next generation of individuals entering the coffee industry, ensuring that they too have a fair chance at success.
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