Miami Roaster CLR Expanding by 60 Percent to Push Wholesale

AL International, the parent company of CLR Roasters, has announced plans to expand the size of its Miami roasting plant by 60 percent. The company says it has experienced 70 percent growth in its roasted coffee sales in the past year, and it expects further growth in 2013 as it prepares to launch wholesale distribution of its Cafe La Rica and Josie Java House brands.

CLR Roasters’ direct store distribution routes will initially focus on 231 locations in Miami Dade and Broward Counties, with plans to expand to West Palm Beach. The company has already scored deals with major grocery retailers including Publix, Winn Dixie and Sedano’s, the largest Hispanic-owned grocery chain in the country.

“We have made great progress since we launched our DSD program in early September,” said Ernesto Aguila, president of roasting at CLR. “Winn Dixie will be running an Everyday Value in store ad until the end of the year with our Cafe La Rica brand and Sedano’s has a major ad breaking November 7th where we expect to move 20,000 units during the week of the ad.”