Raleigh’s 321 Coffee, the local roastery built to employ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is jumping from neighborhood favorite to Costco contender on Sunday, April 26. Its headliner is Elevate, a two-pound bag of whole-bean, medium roast coffee the company has quietly been selling around town, now getting a shot at the big time on warehouse shelves across North Carolina.
According to The News & Observer, Costco stores in the Triangle and across the state will stock Elevate as a limited trial item starting April 26. The company describes Elevate as a single-origin Peru coffee with a smooth, balanced profile, sold in two-pound bags at warehouse-club pricing for Costco members.
The News & Observer also reports that 321 Coffee ramped up roasting to roughly 2,000 pounds a day to fill the initial Costco order, ultimately shipping about 20 pallets of beans. Trial bags are landing on shelves at about $25 each, and the company has even organized guided roastery tours that end in caravan trips to the Raleigh Costco so fans can track down the product on launch day. Co-founder Lindsay Wrege told the paper those operational changes are all about proving the business can scale up for larger wholesale partners without losing its mission.
321 Coffee launched in 2017 with a clear inclusion mission. The name references the three copies of chromosome 21 found in people with Down syndrome, and the company trains and hires people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for roles that range from roasting to customer service, according to 321 Coffee. The company says it now employs more than 50 people across its roastery and retail locations in Raleigh.
What to Look for in the Warehouse Aisle
On its retail shelves, 321 Coffee bills Elevate as “Silky | Sweet,” an easy-drinking medium roast meant for everyday coffee drinkers rather than fussy espresso nerds. At Costco, it will appear as a two-pound whole-bean bag built for bulk shoppers, with a streamlined look compared with the smaller, more detailed bags you might spot in local cafes.
Why the Costco Deal Matters
“This is a huge opportunity for our growing, mission-driven business,” co-founder Lindsay Wrege told WRAL, framing the order as a key step toward 321 Coffee’s long-term goal of creating one million meaningful work hours for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NC State’s entrepreneurship office has spotlighted that ambitious target and says the founders are already making measurable progress toward it. Local advocates add that a steady wholesale partner like Costco can translate into more predictable shifts, deeper training, and real advancement opportunities for employees who have often been shut out of the traditional job market.
Even before the Costco deal, the brand had a noticeable footprint in local grocery aisles. The News & Observer notes that 321 Coffee is already stocked at Whole Foods Market, Weaver Street Market, Food Lion, and Wegmans across the Triangle and Charlotte areas. If the Costco trial performs well, the founders say the product could expand into more states, creating steadier wholesale demand and, in turn, more hours on the clock for the company’s inclusive workforce.
