What would you do if you received $200,000 from the royalties of a legendary musician? Would you invest it in entertainment, real estate, or perhaps start a business of your own?
For Rohan Marley, the son of reggae legend Bob Marley, the answer came from an unexpected place: the coffee-growing hills of Jamaica.
In 1999, Rohan was 27 years old and searching for a new direction in life. Having previously played American football at university and professionally in Canada, he wanted to establish an identity beyond his famous family name.
Then came an opportunity that would change his path.
According to Fast Company, Rohan had recently received approximately $200,000 in royalties from his father’s music when a friend told him about a property for sale in Jamaica. Intrigued, he travelled to the island to see it for himself.
What he discovered was a 52-acre property in the Blue Mountains region, surrounded by fertile land, fruit trees, a river and a community with a long tradition of coffee farming.
Rohan decided to buy the property and explore the possibilities of agriculture.
But there was one major challenge: he was entering an industry he barely understood.
FROM FARMING IDEA TO BUSINESS VENTURE
Rohan wanted to produce coffee in a way that reflected his personal values, including an emphasis on organic farming and responsible treatment of workers.
However, turning a farm into a viable coffee business proved far more difficult than he had anticipated.
He had to learn about coffee cultivation, quality control, export licences and organic certification. The process took years, and his early efforts included disappointing experiences with the quality of his coffee.
Rather than abandon the idea, he continued learning about the industry and exploring new opportunities.
His journey also took him to Ethiopia, a country internationally recognised for its long history of coffee cultivation. There, he gained further inspiration from the people and traditions surrounding coffee production.
Gradually, the idea grew beyond harvesting coffee beans on a Jamaican hillside. Rohan wanted to create a recognisable product that could reach consumers far beyond the Caribbean.
This vision helped give rise to Marley Coffee, a business inspired by his family’s legacy and his own interest in agriculture.
FROM JAMAICA TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Marley Coffee developed into a branded coffee business selling packaged products to consumers in different markets.
However, the business was not limited to the harvest from Rohan’s Jamaican property. As the company developed, it also sourced coffee from other producing countries, including Ethiopia, helping it expand its product range and supply.
The journey illustrates an important distinction between owning a farm and building a successful commercial brand.
