Cha Cha Matcha Founders Under Fire for Problematic Company Practices
Employees are calling out co-founders Conrad Sandelman and Matthew Morton.
Instagram-friendly label Cha Cha Matcha has become a celebrity favorite through its millennial pink branding, and has gained a cult following across the US. Now, several employees at the New York City-based green tea chain are calling out the company’s co-founders for inappropriate behaviour, including cultural appropriation and lack of payment of employees.
Former employees took to Instagram to comment on the brand’s practices, revealing that the co-owners Conrad Sandelman and Matthew Morton judged job interviews based on appearance, and also refused to pay employees throughout their final two weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This happened at the same time as the chain was also distributing massive amounts of free merchandise to celebrities and influencers.
The conversation started following an Instagram post outlining Cha Cha Matcha’s stance on racial inequality, adding that the company set out to donate $25,000 USD to civil rights groups. Multiple accounts started questioning the company, adding that its founders had frequently engaged in multiple accounts of cultural appropriation, as well as promoting Donald Trump through a “Make America Great Again” cap with the caption “got an autograph from my favorite person.”
Cha Cha Matcha co-founders Conrad Sandelman and Matthew Morton have yet to respond to the backlash. Stay tuned if any more information surfaces, and read the full story here.
