Go Dogs! Sip ‘Em

University of Georgia - Georgia Magazine
Bulldog fans can now support their favorite university every morning with a cup of Bulldog Blend. Hand roasted by Athens’ own Jittery Joe’s, Bulldog Blend is available in medium, dark, decaf and fair trade as well as whole bean or ground coffee. Bulldog Blend was created in partnership with the UGA Alumni Association, which receives a portion of the proceeds. Visit http://www.gocoffeestore.com for more information or to place an order.

The Taste of Success: Cleary offering up it's own coffee label

Livingstondaily.com

By Kristofer Karol
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Cleary University is taking on Folgers, Maxwell House and other top coffee brands by offering its own private label: Cleary's Cougar Blend coffee.

The Genoa Township school, which also has a campus in Ann Arbor, is partnering with Florida-based GO Group and Georgia-based Jittery Joe's Coffee, offering dark roast, medium roast, decaf and even fair-trade blends online at jitteryjoes.com. A portion of proceeds from sales will go back to the 1,200-student university.

Cleary University President Tom Sullivan said the coffee has only been on the market for a few months. He said the idea came about during discussions with the group responsible for organizing the school's golf outing, GO Group, which also just happened to be getting into the private label coffee business with Jittery Joe's.

"It is something that's more a novelty for folks that remember their experience fondly and to have it on their shelf," Sullivan said, in reference to Cleary alumni. "When the neighbors come over for a cup of coffee, they can give themselves something to talk about."

Sullivan said he doesn't expect the school to reap any big rewards from coffee sales, and that Cleary isn't looking at licensing its name on any other non-traditional licensing opportunities.

"It's not been something that we've been heavily into," Sullivan said. "And I think probably for the institutions that have athletic programs, that licensure is bigger."

GO Group owner Todd Olesiuk said his company has partnered with two dozen schools on the private-label coffee project. Nonprofits and churches have also participated in a program, he added.

"We try to assist the organizations with engaging their constituents, and for every can that is sold or purchased by the constituents, we actually give a portion of the proceeds back to the institution," Olesiuk said. "It's a good winwin situation."

Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Kristofer Karol at (517) 552-2835 or at kkarol@gannett.com.