Black Excellence: Ronald Damper and Damron Corporation
For more than 35 years, Damron Corporation on Chicago’s west side has manufactured and distributed tea products, sourced from the most famous tea-growing areas in the world. Companies that Damron supplies its products to include McDonald’s. In fact, Damron was the first African-American owned company to become a national supplier to McDonald’s. Recently, the company entered the contract packaging arena, and now specializes in packaging solutions and logistics through the Damron Packaging and Logistics Group.
In 2019, Damron was also named the “Diverse Supplier of the Year” by The Coca-Cola Company.
Damron’s success
Ask Ronald Damper, Founder and President of Damron about the company, though, and he may be equally likely to talk about the need for opportunities for young people on the west side, the company’s story as a highly successful minority-run business, and what he sees in an economy that continues to face the challenge of COVID-19.
After 15 years in the financial services industry, Damper founded Damron, which initially operated out of a west side incubator for small businesses run by the Industrial Council of Northwest Chicago. Damron moved into its current home at 4433 West Ohio Street in 1990. The company employs a base of about 25 workers and about another 20 or so workers on a seasonal basis. Damron is located in a 50,000 square foot facility in an economically disadvantaged area on the west side.