Peoples Coffee, the Fair Trade organic wholesale coffee company, has launched a PledgeMe Campaign to help grow production capacity and its supermarket footprint. The company has set a target of $1.5 million.
“Ultimately, we want Peoples Coffee to be found in every New Zealand kitchen. We’re looking to purchase a new roasting machine to grow our bean capacity from 2500 to 8000 kilos a week and expand production with automated packaging machinery and high-capacity grinding machines,” said James Beyer, People's General Manager.
The business started 18 years ago and currently roasts 1,800 kilograms weekly. It sources beans from ethical coffee cooperatives in Ethiopia, Columbia, Honduras and beyond. Peoples coffee has returned almost $400,000 in the last three years to their growers.
Peoples Coffee Team - From Peoples Coffee Facebook
“Staying true to our values has taught us that business can be ethical, sustainable and profitable. In 2004 we were ahead of our time, and despite being told we couldn’t do it, we’ve not only shown it’s possible, but it’s also now what consumers demand. Business can be meaningful and successful. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive,” said Founder Matt Lamason.
“Growing our footprint and sales across NZ’s supermarkets and the hospitality sector is our priority for the next three years. If we can achieve our $1.5 million target, we’re forecasting sales of $6.9 million in three years,” said Beyer.
Raising funds through PledgeMe stays true to the company’s roots of ‘by the people, for the people’ and opens on October 14.
