Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. Here are this week’s stories.

Mon, 20 Mar

• PRF El Salvador announces winners of 2023 Salvadoran Barista Championship, Salvadoran Brewers Cup, Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and Global Roasting Contest. All four competitions took place at the two-day forum on 16 and 17 March 2023:
  
  • Carlos Cubias was announced as the 2023 Salvadoran Barista Champion, while Alejandro Méndez placed first at the 2023 Salvadoran Brewers Cup.
  • The winners of the 2023 Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Championship were Juan Aristizabal from Colombia and Julia Dziadevych from Ukraine.
  • The winner of the first-ever Global Roasting Contest, who received an Aillio Bullet Roaster R1 V2, was Shaun Aupiais from South Africa.

• US class action lawsuit claims Dutch Bros misled investors and failed to disclose crucial financial information. Several US law firms say certain investors may be entitled to compensation because of the company’s “materially false and/or misleading statements”, as well as Dutch Bros’ alleged failure to disclose its accurate financial circumstances.

• Grind acquires Bottleshot Coffee for US $18.3 million. The UK roaster says its acquisition of Bottleshot will allow it to expand into grocery and RTD coffee markets.

• New brand Native Design launches line of coffee tools. The US brand produces several coffee tools and accessories, including the Launchpad countertop pour over brewing station, Pro Tampers, and the Filter Crib paper filter holder.

• TYPICA announces series of events to celebrate new US launch. The green coffee trader will host several cupping sessions at three different New York City locations on 29, 30, and 31 March. TYPICA will also host a community dinner at its Brooklyn headquarters on 31 March.

Tue, 21 Mar

• WMF Professional releases new line of crystal glasses for hot beverages. The company’s TRUE FLAVOUR line includes four different glasses, which WMF says are made using an “innovative manufacturing process” to be able to withstand boiling temperatures.

• McDonalds to serve Oatly in coffee beverages at all locations in Austria. The fast food chain will now offer Oatly Barista Edition for its McCafé coffee beverages.

• Peet’s Coffee to offer complimentary plant milk options for all beverages throughout April. As part of its new spring plant-based menu, the US chain will offer complimentary oat, soy, or almond milk with all beverages. New spring menu items include the Lavender Vanilla Almond Latte and the Lavender Cold Brew Oat Latte.

• New greensquare trading tool launches online. The new ecommerce platform connects international roasters with hundreds of Australian green coffee traders. Users will also have access to digital documents and online delivery schedules.

• Saudi Coffee Company plans to boost coffee production in Jazan region. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jazan Mountains Development Authority. The two will work together to promote locally-grown coffee on the international market.

• Melbourne International Coffee Expo to launch Richest Barista competition this year. The knock-out style competition will include three rounds: Barista, Latte Art, and Cup Tasting. Participants will compete for the chance to win a share of the AU $40,000 (US $26,000) prize pool. Registration is set to open soon.

Wed, 22 Mar

• Blank Street Coffee secures US $20 million investment to launch beverage subscription service. The chain’s new subscription service costs US $12 per week. Participating customers will be able to order free filter coffee, tea, and cold brew every two hours, and selected premium beverage will be available for US $1.

• Spanish coffee shop startup GoodNews becomes certified B-Corp. GoodNews, which operates 25 stores across Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris, is now one of around 160 coffee-related B-Corp companies in the world. The brand plans to continue expansion across Europe in 2023.

• Starbucks announces Laxman Narasimhan as new CEO two weeks early as workers strike at over 100 locations in US. Narasimhan, who was first named as incoming CEO on 1 September 2022, succeeds Howard Schultz – who returned as interim CEO effective 4 April 2022. Starbucks Workers United members in 40 US cities organised a strike in response to continued claims of the company’s anti-union activity.

• The Barista League to return to Hamburg, Germany on 25 March. The barista-style coffee competition will also include a Sucafina cupping challenge, Prana Chai “Prana Pong”, and the Mystery Mocktail Challenge.

• Starbucks launches Oleato olive oil-infused coffee drinks in the US. Following the Oleato beverage line launch in Italy last month, Starbucks will serve the olive oil-infused drinks at select locations in the US, as well as its Reserve stores.

• World Coffee Events to host webinar on updated rules and regulations for 2023 World Coffee Championships. Members of the WCC Competitions Strategic Committee will explain all update rules and regulations for the 2023 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup. Webinar registration is open now.

Thu, 23 Mar

• Sustainable Brand Index names Paulig as Finland’s most sustainable beverage brand. For the fourth year in a row, Paulig has been recognised as the country’s most sustainable beverage brand by Finnish consumers. The company also ranked 21st across all categories.

• Norway’s US $1.3 trillion wealth fund to vote in favour of motion for Starbucks to report on its labour rights records. The fund, which is one of the world’s largest investors, currently owns US $1.2 billion in Starbucks shares. Following a mass Starbucks Workers United movement in the US, the fund says it will vote in favour of commissioning an external assessment of Starbucks’ handling of labour right issues.

• Visitor registration opens for 2023 International Café and Beverage Show 2023. This year’s event will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia from 25 to 27 May, and is set to welcome over 8,000 attendees.

• New survey reveals British consumers’ relationship with coffee has “changed forever” following the pandemic. The survey, conducted by Opinion Matters and commissioned by Cairngorm Coffee Roasters, found that 43% of British millennials are drinking more coffee than ever before. Moreover, a third of Gen Zs now see takeaway coffee as a necessity rather than a luxury.

• National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia selects shortlist of candidates for General Manager position. Between 27 March and 4 April, the shortlisted candidates – Germán Alberto Bahamón Jaramillo, Sandra Morelli Rico, and Santiago Pardo Salguero – will present their proposals to each of the 15 departmental committees of FNC coffee growers.

• Strauss Group reports 6.9% coffee sales growth in 2022. The Israeli food and beverage manufacturer says despite high green coffee prices and rising energy costs, it experienced strong growth in coffee sales in both Brazil and Eastern Europe.

Fri, 24 Mar

• Equal Origins to host What it means to #EmbraceEquity in coffee and cocoa webinar on 29 March. The online panel will feature speakers Michael Anthony Montalvan Tineo, General Manager at CAC La Prosperidad de Chirinos, and Kelly Amoroso, Senior Coffee and Tea Buyer at Allegro Coffee. Registration is open now.

• European Coffee Symposium 2023 announces first speakers and panellists. The event, which will take place from 27 to 29 November in Barcelona, Spain, will include Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood of Colonna Coffee, Roland Horne of WatchHouse, and Ignacio Llado Alvarez-Sallas of Blank Street Coffee.

• Gruppo Cimbali to move US headquarters to Seattle, Washington. As of 1 June 2023, the Italian coffee equipment manufacturer will move all US offices and operations to Renton, Seattle – including a larger manufacturing plant for Slayer machines. Cimbali says the move will allow it to operate more efficiently and effectively in the US.

• Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association says women are leading more than 25% of coffee farms in Brazil. According to the latest survey from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, around 89,000 women are running or co-running coffee farms and estates in the country – the equivalent of 815,000ha.

• Juan Valdez reports 52% increase in sales in 2022 following international expansion. The Colombian coffee chain says its gross profits totalled US $608,000, which helped to offset losses of US $283,000 in the previous year.

• World AeroPress Champion Wendelien van Bunnik launches the Happy Coffee Network online. The 2019 World AeroPress Champion says her new project is “a space for people to learn and connect through coffee in a safe, encouraging environment”. The Happy Coffee Network will also host a series of events throughout the year.

Winners of the first-ever Global Coffee Awards announced at PRF El Salvador

On 16 and 17 March, Producer Roaster Forum (PRF) – the world’s largest producer-focused event – returned to El Salvador for the first time since 2016. Alongside a series of engaging lectures, panel discussions, workshops and competitions, PRF El Salvador was also the stage for the first-ever edition of the Global Coffee Awards.

These are innovative new producer-led industry awards, which recognise innovators and leaders from across the sector. The aim is by centring the Global Coffee Awards in Latin America, they can be far more inclusive and accessible.

Four judges evaluated entries over a number of categories and selected a winner for each. Judges included María Pacas, Commercial Director of Café Pacas, Dale Harris, former World Barista Champion and COO of Hasbean and Ozone Coffee, Nicole Battefeld-Montgomery, Head of Education at Rancilio Group DE, and Tony Dreyfuss, co-founder of Metropolis Coffee Company.

The winners of the PRF El Salvador Global Coffee Awards 2023 are:

• PRF El Salvador Product Excellence Award:  ECO-washer 1500 by Penagos

• PRF El Salvador Product Innovation Award: The Link by Nucleus Coffee Tools

• PRF El Salvador Iconic Design Award: The Bullet R1 V2 by Aillio

• PRF El Salvador Best Booth Award: Café L’Étranger

• Best Producer – Central America Award: Los Pirineos Coffee Farm

• Best Roaster – Central America Award: Pirómano Coffee Roasters

Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:

• Thu, 9 Mar – ofi says 82% of consumers use plant-based products at least once a month. The food and beverage ingredients company found that US consumers see plant-based products as additions to their diets rather than substitutes to dairy. Around 63% of those surveyed expect to use more plant-based products within the next two years.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Sojitz Corporation acquires rights to operate Costa Coffee in Japan. Newly formed company, Sojitz Royal Café, plans to expand Costa Coffee across Japan, primarily in the Kanto region.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Crop losses during 2022/23 Brazilian coffee harvest raised domestic prices higher than export values. Cepea says frosts and excessive rains drastically lowered supply in Brazil and caused prices to fluctuate. Some farmers are unwilling to sell their crop unless prices increase, but some experts believe the industry will recover in the 2023/24 season.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Swiss Water reports 41% increase in 2022 revenue. The Canadian company says its annual volumes increased by 19% last year, while its adjusted EBITDA was up by 58% to US $16.7 million for the full year.

• Fri, 17 Mar – Newly unionised Heine Brothers employees reach new contract agreement with management. After four months of negotiations, employees have received a number of new benefits, including a 10% pay increase for baristas in first year of employment, an additional week of paid time off, and additional paid holiday.

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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s stories, and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news & opinion piece on how Gen Z coffee consumer behaviour is changing in the UK.