AFROPOP: How Jamel Stephens Turned a Kitchen Experiment into a Thriving Soda Brand

In 2022, Jamel Stephens set out to turn his dream into reality – launching his own soda pop company. By December 2023, that vision came to life with the debut of AFROPOP.

“The first time I made soda, it wasn’t great,” Stephens admitted. “But I kept practicing and refining the recipe until I got it right.”

With no prior experience in the beverage industry, his journey began in the most humble of places – his kitchen.

“I started by mashing whole berries with sugar water and blackberries,” he recalled. “It was all about experimenting and learning.”

When it came time to name his creation, Stephens drew inspiration from both his cultural roots and regional dialect.

“Being from the South, we call it ‘pop,'” he explained. “I merged that with Afro-futurism to create AFROPOP.”

Community support played a crucial role in reaffirming his vision. One particularly moving encounter left a lasting impression.

“A customer tried our soda, and it literally brought tears to his eyes. He told me, ‘I never knew I needed to see myself in a can of soda,’” Stephens shared.

Initially, he handled every aspect of the business – from concept development to distribution – but in just over a year, AFROPOP has seen remarkable growth.

“We started in 15 locations, and now we’re in 70,” Stephens said. “We’re also in discussions with major local grocery chains to carry our products.”

AFROPOP currently offers three unique flavors that stand out in the market:

• BLVCKER The BERRY – a rich blackberry vanilla soda.
• Grandma’s House – a nostalgic butterscotch cream soda.
• Summer Nights – a refreshing blueberry lemonade soda.

And there’s more on the way.

“We are working on a zero-sugar version, plus some exciting new flavors that I can’t reveal just yet,” Stephens teased. “But trust me, you’ve never had anything like them before.”

AFROPOP is now available in stores across Oklahoma, with plans for national and international expansion. To find a location near you, visit www.afropopco.com.