Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week.
Here are this week’s coffee news stories.
The word of the week is: sustainability.
Mon, 8 Jan
- MTPak Coffee is offering 10 roasters free tickets to the PRF Guatemala Sourcing Trip Experience.The coffee packaging company is the official STE Roaster Sponsor, as well as a Gold Sponsor of PRF Guatemala. Coffee roasters are encouraged to enter the competition to win one of 10 tickets to the Sourcing Trip Experience, set to take place from 3 to 8 March.
- Pret A Manger signs first Indian delivery partnership with Swiggy.The UK café chain entered the Indian market in April 2023 and now has nine outlets in total across Mumbai and Delhi. It has now partnered with delivery app Swiggy to offer mobile delivery from its stores.
- Denim Coffee unveils new headquarters, product line, and wholesale partnership programme.The Pennsylvania, US specialty roaster has developed a brand-new facility in Chambersburg, featuring a production and roasting space, a tasting and training room, and flash chilled coffee production facilities that will enable it to sell flash chilled products at scale.
- IWCA says it met its US $25,000 fundraising goal at the end of 2023.The organisation’s Double Your Impact initiative saw the Global Leadership Alliance match individual donations. As a result, it raised more than US $50,000 by 31 December 2023.
- Sucafina adds third-party suppliers to IMPACT responsible sourcing programme.The specialty coffee trader says CoHonducafe and PERHUSA-Perales Huancaruna S.A.C. are now third-party suppliers for its IMPACT responsible sourcing standard.
- Oatly launches two new oat milk varieties in the US.Oatly Unsweetened and Super Basic mark the company’s first “major innovations” to its core North American product portfolio in five years. The company adds that plant-based alternatives are increasingly preferred in the US.
- Knoops launches 54% Dark Chocolate Oat Mocha in partnership Minor Figures. The company says customers can pair its 54% dark chocolate flakes and 100% arabica specialty ground coffee with Minor Figures Barista Oat milk to prepare the drink. The flakes are 100% vegan and are available at all Knoops locations.
- Black Sheep Coffee aims to accelerate global growth and franchise development in 2024.The UK coffee company says it doubled turnover in 2022, setting it up for increased sales and product development, along with store openings in the US and the UAE.
Tue, 9 Jan
- Cropster launchers Commerce coffee industry fulfilment software solution.The company says the software gathers online orders, manages roasted coffee inventory, calculates and batches green coffee to be roaster, and creates a picking and packaging list. It also facilitates traceability from bean to bag.
- Starbucks plans to operate 1,000 stores and double its workforce in India by 2028.Tata Starbucks, the joint venture between Starbucks and Tata Consumer Products, currently operates 390 stores across India. It now plans to double its employee headcount to 8,600.
- The Australian Open announces Luckin Coffee as Official Coffee Partner in China and southeast Asia.The tennis competition has signed a multi-year partnership with the Chinese coffee chain. It adds that the deal represents “a dynamic fusion infused with the vitality of the younger generation”.
- Unseasonal rains threaten Indian coffee industry following record robusta prices.Reports suggest that excessive rainfall in Karnataka and Kerala could delay harvests and impact yields, just weeks after robusta prices reached record highs for local producers. Producers are also facing labour shortages.
- JDE Peet’s recognised as sustainability leader by 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index. JDE Peet’s is also the only coffee company featured on the list and says it has been recognised for championing an “inclusive and regenerative ecosystem” through its Common Grounds Programme.
- IEG Asia acquires Montgomery Asia food and beverage events.The Italian Exhibition Group, which organises SIGEP, has added Speciality Food & Drinks Asia, Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia, and Food2Go to its events portfolio. The events will co-locate alongside the inaugural edition of SIGEP Asia, scheduled for 26 to 28 June 2024 in Singapore.
Wed, 10 Jan
- The Barista League 2024 season to feature three European and American tours. The competition will take on a new format this year consisting of two European tours, a North American tour, and standalone events in Sweden, Mexico, Australia, Asia, and the UAE.
- SCA releases World Coffee Championships Copenhagen rules and regulations.The rules apply to several WCC events slated to take place at World of Coffee Copenhagen from 27 to 29 June, including the World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, World Coffee Roasting, and Cezve/Ibrik Championships.
- International Café & Beverage Show 2024 set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 23 to 25 May.The leading showcase of artisanal food, beverage, and café products in Asia will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, featuring more than 350 brands and set to welcome over 12,000 attendees.
- Panther Coffee partners with Shopify for New York City pop-up store.The specialty coffee brand will operate a pop-up café at Spotify’s NYC offices from 1 February to mid-2024. The launch event is set to include a Latte Art Competition by ESOM and performances by several DJs.
- Kenya aims to increase coffee production by 49,000 tonnes by 2025.The Kenyan government hopes to nearly double local coffee production by 2025 through various strategic initiatives. It adds that coffee holds a pivotal role in the country’s economic growth.
- Community Coffee appoints Tom Corley as new CEO.Korley, who previously served as an executive at Kraft Heinz, will succeed outgoing CEO David Belanger on 15 January.
- Costa Coffee appoints Cecile Angrand as chief marketing officer.Angrand previously served as an executive at Bel, Nespresso, and Cadbury. She will lead the company’s global marketing staff across brand, digital, loyalty, product innovation, insights, and corporate affairs.
Thu, 11 Jan
- PRF Guatemala confirms first speakers for 7 & 8 March 2024. The two-day forum is scheduled to take place at the Anacafé venue in Guatemala City, featuring lectures, workshops, cuppings, and competitions. Confirmed speakers include Cleia Junqueira of The Coffee Connoisseur Collective, Eduardo Choza of Mayorga Coffee, and Giselle Barrera of Latinas in Coffee.
- SCA announces Thermoplan Black&White4 CTS as 2024-2027 World Latte Art Championship Qualified Espresso Machine.This marks the first time that a fully-automatic espresso machine has qualified for use in the World Coffee Championships.
- Marco Beverage Systems announces B-Corp certification.The company is now a certified B-Corporation and has met stringent criteria around social and environmental performance. It adds that the certification solidifies it’s purpose to “re-imagine beverage excellence everywhere”.
- US consumer group sues Starbucks over alleged hiding of labour and human rights violations.The National Consumers League says Starbucks is lying to consumers by claiming it’s committed to 100% ethical sourcing. It alleges that there are “significant human rights and labor abuses across Starbucks’ supply chain”, including “working conditions akin to slavery” at its largest Brazilian supplier.
- Nestlé Vietnam invests US $100 million in coffee factory to increase production capacity.The company says it plans to expand production capacity at its Tri An factory in order to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality coffee.
- Tchibo, Matthew Algie, and Capitol Foods to operate under the Matthew Algie name in the UK and Ireland.Matthew Algie has announced a formal merger of the three brands, adding that it is now the “premium roaster in the UK and Ireland”. Over half of its 400 staff will be based at its upgraded Glasgow roastery.
Fri, 12 Jan
- THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024 scheduled for 6 to 8 March in Bangkok, Thailand.The HoReCa event is set to feature several dedicated expos, including one for the café and bar industry. It will also host this year’s ASEAN Barista Team Championship.
- MICE 2024 early bird tickets available until 31 January.Prospective attendees of this year’s Melbourne International Coffee Expo can secure discounted rates on tickets until the end of the month. The event will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12 to 14 May 2024.
- Anaerobic fermented Udaini sells for US $444/lb at National Yemen Coffee Auction.The lot was produced by Mohammed Yahya Elrowmeim in the Al-Haemah Al-Kharijiyah region. All 17 lots, including four that received 90 points or more, were auctioned online on 11 January.
- Triestespresso Expo set to return to the Trieste Convention Centre from 24 to 26 October.The 11th edition of the expo will feature three days of “full immersion in the world of coffee”, including educational events, extensive exhibitions, and coffee tastings.
- Algrano to host two-part roaster training webinar from 25 January.The online green coffee marketplace will host the first session on 25 January, featuring Amaris Gutierrez-Ray of Joe Coffee Company and Alice Juguet of Coutume. The professionals will discuss their strategies to engage consumers and sell coffee despite the increase in price sensitivity.
- JNP Coffee to host public cupping at World of Coffee Dubai on 22 January.The Burundian specialty coffee producer, importer, and exporter will showcase its best lots at WoC Dubai 2024, scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
- Team Rachael aims to raise funds to fight pancreatic cancer at PanCAN PurpleStride 2024.Coffee industry veteran Bob Goldman is raising funds along with his wife, Rachael, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for some time. The PanCAN walk will take place across the US on 27 April.
- Coffee & Climate to host “It’s Bean Too Hot!” online symposium on 21 & 22 February.The symposium will explore the theme of “the reality of coffee farming in the era of climate change”, covering topics like regulation compliance, climate resilience, and the needs of smallholder coffee farming families.
Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look.
- Fri, 22 Dec – Cimbali Group is the Official Espresso Machine Partner for the 2024 & 2025 Italian Barista Championships. The company will supply competitors with the M200 GT1 espresso machine at the upcoming championship, set to take place at SIGEP in Rimini, Italy from 20 to 24 January 2024.
- Fri, 5 Jan – China becomes one of the largest importers of Ethiopian coffee.According to the Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew, China is now one of the largest importers of Ethiopian coffee, largely thanks to the rapid expansion of the Chinese coffee market.
- Fri, 5 Jan – La Marzocco USA becomes Mahlkönig’s newest US distributor.Hemro Group has announced La Marzocco USA as its newest US distributor of Mahlkönig grinders, building on previous collaborations between the two companies.
Coffee news image credits: Producer & Roaster Forum, Specialty Coffee Association
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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news piece on why Tchibo is keeping the Matthew Algie brand.
The post Coffee News Recap, 12 Jan: PRF Guatemala announces first speakers, WCC rules released for Copenhagen & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.
