Ditting USA Bids Farewell as Hemro Group Shifts US Operations

The popular Ditting KR 804 commercial grinder.

A daily grind that lasted more than half a century has come to an end as grinder distributor and service provider Ditting USA has closed up shop while founder Albert Bezjian heads fully into retirement.

Ditting parent company the Hemro Group is officially taking over the Ditting business in the United States, while Kentucky-based Prima Coffee Equipment will be serving as the new distribution partner.

Hemro made a similar structural change earlier this year for Ditting sibling brand Mahlkönig and previous U.S. distributor Mahlkönig USA.

The most recent change is a major milestone for Ditting in the U.S. where Bezjian has been involved with the workhorse commercial grinders since 1968, when he launched Bezjian Imports. In the early 1990s, Ditting entrusted Bezjian with distribution and tech support, and the company took the name Ditting USA.

Since 2006, Nancy and Will Wideman have been managing day-to-day operations of the company from a headquarters about an hour northeast of Detroit, sending hundreds of Dittings into coffee shops, roasteries, grocery stores and other demanding coffee environments.

In a farewell announcement shared with DCN, Nancy Wideman said she plans to shift more energy into her private travel agency, and that Will Wideman plans to pursue a passion for blacksmithing full time.

“It is time for us to step back from the coffee world as we send both kids off to college and we all begin the next chapters of our lives,” the farewell announcement stated. “We have been blessed to work with so many amazing people, to be able to watch your successes, and to build relationships that went far beyond the coffee bar. We have always been proud of the service we delivered, but it was the friendships that made business fun. Thank you for letting us into your worlds!”

Ditting USA’s official last day was Friday, June 25, while the team is this week assisting Hemro and Prima with the transition of equipment and facilities. Hemro, which is also the parent company of grinder brands Mahlkönig, Anfim, and HeyCafe, officially takes over U.S. operations on July 1.