Meet Marquita and Deven Carter, the African American couple behind Blanket Pancakes & Syrup. Their pancake and syrup products, born from a quest for healthier breakfast options, have landed on the shelves of major retailers like Costco and Walmart. Starting from humble beginnings, they are now hitting $1 million in sales in less than 5 years.
Marquita and Deven, based in North Carolina, aimed big from the start. Even with just the two of them, they structured their business like a big enterprise. Marquita, the CEO, and Deven, the COO, poured their hearts into every aspect, from marketing to operations.
“When we started the company, we saw bigger and we treated it as such,” Marquita told the US Chamber.
“If you see yourself as just a mom-and-pop operation, you’re going to limit yourself,” Deven added.
The idea for Blanket sparked during Marquita’s high-risk pregnancy when she sought natural ingredients for her favorite breakfast. They crafted homemade recipes, free from artificial additives like high fructose corn syrup, which they initially shared with family and friends.
They eventually started selling in local farmers’ markets and expanded to offering homemade pancake mixes and syrups. The business name, Blanket, conveys warmth, coziness, and security — qualities they want customers to feel when enjoying their products.
Their journey gained momentum when word of mouth led to local stores, and TV exposure, and grew into regional chains and retail giants like Walmart, Costco, and more. Despite challenges in securing credit, they persevered, tapping into personal savings to fulfill orders.
Now, with over $1 million in sales, they’re eyeing broader horizons. Seeking investors via platforms like StartEngine, they aim to scale production, expand marketing efforts, and meet the growing demand.
Along their entrepreneurial journey, they have learned important lessons such as setting ground rules as a married business couple, asking for help, and prioritizing the right partnerships. The Carters believe in doing the right thing and focusing on their vision, confident that Blanket Pancakes & Syrup will become a household name.
“There is no reason why Blanket Pancakes & Syrup will not be a household name just as big as any other brand out there,” Deven said.
