In 2020, Richard Serrano of Serrano’s Coquito and Serrano’s Limber Pops dreamt that he was in a supermarket, handing out samples of his traditional Puerto Rican creations. Five years later, that dream has started to come to life.
Richard now makes his own coquito, available upon request year-round in a variety of delicious flavors. And Serrano's Limber Pops are sold at pop-ups and select ShopRite supermarket stores. He also sells at larger events, such as the Mann Center’s recent HBCU Festival presented by TD Bank, as well as throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, Delaware, New Jersey and online.
“It wasn't something I saw in my future,” Richard said.
Driven by his deep love for his culture and the encouragement of his family and friends, Richard started making coquito for his community with a simple goal: make people smile.
“I was working as a marriage counselor when the pandemic hit – families were struggling. I wanted to bring people a little joy, so I started making coquito to lift spirits because traditionally, coquito is known to bring families together."
His simple goal — to make people smile — turned into two mobile, delivery-based businesses.
‘Just like abuela made it’
Coquito, which can be made with or without alcohol, is sometimes called “Puerto Rican eggnog” due to its similar ingredients and its enjoyment during the winter holidays. It typically includes coconut cream, coconut milk, evaporated milk or substitutes, sweetened condensed milk or alternatives, spices, and sometimes Spanish rum. But for Richard, coquito is far more than a holiday drink.
"For me, coquito brings families together. I think about my mom and my grandmom, how they were in the kitchen making it and making memories. It’s tradition. It’s culture. It’s something we enjoy together. This is something that I want to share with the world.”
Richard’s pride in his heritage is palpable from the moment you meet him — and is rivaled only by his love for his family. The foundation of his coquito recipe comes from his older brother. He's kept that recipe for over 30 years, building on it, and even created a vegan coquito because of his daughter who lives in Atlanta and follows a plant-based lifestyle. She asked for a version she could enjoy.
"I swapped dairy ingredients for coconut-based ones and spent about six months perfecting it. But that’s what inspired me, really making it for her.”
Richard’s vegan coquito has been very well received. “Everyone I started giving tastings to loved it. So now, she is able to offer that to her community.”
Two years after he started making coquito, Richard added limber pops to his recipe rotation. Named after pilot Charles Lindbergh, limber is a Puerto Rican frozen treat that resembles a cross between water ice and ice cream. The recipe that inspired him came from an older woman in his neighborhood, who later developed Alzheimer’s.
“I tried going to the local stores and they just weren’t the same. There was no good limber.”
So, he went to the community — to the older generation who actually made these treats — and learned from them.
"The limber packaging carries the line 'like abuela made it' because those neighborhood matriarchs shaped the flavor and feeling we aim to recreate."
Building a foundation with TD Bank
Now, he’s building a foundation of his own as his business expands. As a customer of TD Bank for over 25 years, opening a business account with them was the natural choice. Since then, he’s benefited from TD’s host of resources, opportunities and networks that helped accelerate growth.
“The folks at TD Bank have been instrumental. If it wasn’t for people like them, we wouldn’t be at this place as quickly as we are. They actually inspired us because of how deeply they believed in our business,” he said.
The feeling at TD Bank was mutual. “I love the story of Serrano’s Coquito because it's exactly what you would picture in a family business: full of passion and an amazing product that drives their business forward, every time we engage them,” said Paige Carlson-Heim, Head of U.S. Social Impact for TD Bank. “It truly underscores the important connection between our social impact work and our focus on supporting small businesses. And it's why our team was thrilled to invite Richard to be a part of the Vendor Village at the HBCU festival. We want our communities to know how important it is to TD Bank that small, family businesses grow and thrive."
Paige also noted that Richard's passion and energy is contagious. And after trying Limber Pops at the HBCU festival, she's now "a customer for life!”
Tommy Berner, Community Business Development Officer, shares that sentiment. “Serrano’s Coquito pairs beautifully with Richard’s energy and inclusive spirit. His product brings people of different backgrounds — and different pallets — together.”
What’s next for Serrano’s Coquito?
Now shipping to thirteen states via request on his website and exploring distribution opportunities with a distillery, Richard sees a bright future ahead for his business.
"We are exploring distribution with a distillery," he said. "Short-term, we want to start bottling and distributing coquito more broadly and find a brick-and-mortar spot. I’d like to expand flavors — especially more Hispanic-inspired varieties — and collaborate with other local makers. We’re also looking to start bottling and distributing our coquito more broadly and find a brick-and-mortar spot. I’d like to expand my flavors, especially more Hispanic-inspired varieties, and collaborate with other local makers.
“In the long term,” he added with his signature smile, “I want to launch the first coquito party truck so we can bring the celebration to more streets, markets, and events."
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