Coffee lovers throughout the world can’t get enough of Queensland’s favourite brew with online sales for Merlo Coffee jumping 25 per cent in the past year.
The Brisbane-based coffee company, founded by Dean Merlo, has recently opened a $5 million, 1600m² warehouse and distribution centre at Eagle Farm to help meet demand from its growing wholesale and online business.
“We’ve seen a 25 per cent increase in Melbourne wholesale sales in the first six months of this financial year and expect that figure to reach 40 per cent by the end of June,” Merlo said. “And online, while the majority of our buyers are Australian, we are also seeing an increase in overseas sales. The United States is our biggest overseas market but we also deliver beans to people in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, Taiwan, Switzerland and Norway.”
Merlo Coffee chief executive officer and director, James Wilkinson, said the company filled almost 15,000 online orders for just over 30,000 items in 2018 ranging from coffee beans to KeepCups and brewing equipment.
“The growth in this area of the business has created the need for a purpose-built warehouse and distribution facility,” Wilkinson said. “Not only does it help us meet the current demand, but it’s an investment in Merlo’s future.”
The property at 320 Fison Ave East, Eagle Farm also includes a 400m² two-storey office block, as well as a light and airy cafe.
