Tucker is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising business destinations in the Metro Atlanta area. Each month, the Business Boom will seek to show different examples of how Tucker’s business scene is flourishing. This month's column is written by our Business Outreach Coordinator, Angela Brooks.
Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) is celebrated annually from September 15 through October 15 to acknowledge the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to over twenty countries in Latin America, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Many labels are used for this pan-ethnic group, with the most common terms being “Hispanic” and Latina/o/x.
On the business front, in the past ten years Latinos have started businesses in the United States at a faster rate than any other group – a 44% growth rate – compared to only 4% for non-Latino owned firms according to the 2021 American Business Survey (ABS). Latin-owned businesses (LOB) make up approximately 20% of the businesses owned by all demographic groups. There are an estimated 4.65 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States with construction being the #1 industry followed by food services and administration.
To put that in perspective, recent Census data shows that there are an estimated 3.12 million black-owned businesses, 2.9 million Asian-American-owned businesses and approximately 90,000 businesses owned by those of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island descent.
One local organization helping to launch and support LOB businesses in the Atlanta metro area is the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia (LAAC). They have business incubator and accelerator programs that provide business hopefuls with the tools needed to launch and grow. Operations Manager Liz Rodriguez said, “We provide the resources and tools to help them succeed.”
“Not only Latino-owned businesses,” she added, “We help all businesses regardless of their membership status with the LAAC and that includes non- Latino-owned businesses.”
Two businesses in Tucker that have worked closely with the chamber are Prime Meats and WeARGourmet.
Part of the NORSAN LLC group, started in 1987, Prime Meats is a family-owned, private-packaging and distribution company that provides premium meat products to restaurants and grocery stores in the Southeast.
Like so many other small businesses, the company did experience a downturn due to COVID-19, but they had a great safety net.
Speaking at a LAAC conference, Norsan CEO and Chairman Norberto Sanchez cited diversification and having more than one line of business as being keys to long-term success and profitability. “If you have the potential and opportunity to be diversified, do it. Don’t depend on one single business,” he said.
WeARGourmet Sausage is another family-owned business. Frederico Etchechoury, a gourmet sausage manufacturer owner of WeARGourmet, brought a taste of Argentina to America and fulfilled a dream on behalf of his late father who was a pig farmer there.
“The recipes we use today were handed down from my father’s great grandfather,” Etchechoury said. He says the pride in his heritage is the basis for the products they “craft” and the traditions that they pass down. He still uses the original family recipes for the sausages, and so he has to get some of the ingredients from Argentina. “This is not cheap to do, but it is that important in order to stay true to our tradition.”
If you’re wondering what’s behind the name, according to its website, “We” represents the dedicated individuals who bring our customers the very best products. The “AR” stands for Argentina, the country we call home and where we draw our inspiration. Gourmet represents the level of quality we strive for in everything we do.”
Etchechoury began his journey in 2022 and runs his production and operations out of the PREP concept kitchens on Lakeside Parkway.
Tucker has a bounty of diverse businesses to shop with. HHM is a great opportunity to show your support for our local LOBs. Shop Latino Biz (SLB) Day on Sept. 15 has become the official kick-off event for HHM and a community day of action. Created in 2018, it was started to encourage support and to recognize the importance of LOBs to local economies across the country.
Tucker’s Mayor Frank Auman plans to issue a formal city proclamation and present it to the LAA Chamber in honor of Shop Latino-owned Businesses Day on Sept. 15, 2023.
So, remember to patronize one of the city’s LOB not only on that day and to shop intentionally and throughout the year with all of Tucker’s diverse small businesses.
