Description

Join us for a quarterly series where we feature and interview local, successful food entrepreneurs. Hear experts’ stories and advice for budding businesses in the region. If you are an aspiring foodpreneur, in the hospitality industry, or simply a foodie at heart, this is for you. 

Hear from Autumn Pruitt, baker-turned-entrepreneur, and owner of Hardy Coffee Co., as she shares the ten-year evolution of her organization. Pruitt and her husband, Luke, currently own and operate three brick and mortar locations that consist of bakery, coffee house, roasting and wholesale. Most recently, they brought all layers of the business under one unified brand. Hardy is more than just coffee. It’s a venture that ultimately unites community members and partners. 

Cost: FREE
Ticket includes admission, networking, beverages + light bites 

Agenda:
6 - 7 p.m. | Registration, Bites + Beverages
7 - 8 p.m. | Program + Q/A
8 - 9 p.m. | Networking

Speaker Bio 
Autumn and her husband Luke moved back to their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and started the bakery portion of the business in 2010. In those early years, they subleased a kitchen and tiny storefront from Aromas Coffeehouse on the corner of 11th and Jones. A year and a half later, they purchased the coffee shop and have since opened two additional brick and mortar locations. In 2015, they began roasting coffee in-house under the brand Hardy Coffee Co. and later brought every piece (bakery, coffee shops, roasting lab) and location of the business (Downtown, Benson, North Omaha) under that unified name.

Hardy Coffee Co. exists to provide physical space for the community to interact. And it turns out that specialty coffee and made-from-scratch baked goods are a great excuse for neighbors to get together and build something or simply unplug. Most recently, Hardy has focused on connecting with wholesale partners across the region to do the same thing for the communities that they know and love. 

Autumn and Luke live in North Omaha with their son and daughter, Lawson (3) and Sawyer (6 months). Lawson loves sweeping the floors at the shop and is paid handsomely in cinnamon rolls and whole milk. Sawyer is actively making plans for her first birthday cake. 

Special thanks to our Kitchen Council supporters: 
Conagra Brands
Iowa West Foundation
Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce 
Iowa Economic Development Authority 

Photo and Video Release: 
By registering and participating in this event, you consent to the recording of your likeness, image, and/or voice and authorize the Greater Omaha Chamber to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing your likeness, image, and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

Need more information? Please contact Holly Benson Muller, managing director, at hbenson@omahachamber.org.