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Cocoa beans drying. Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.
Grist Report: Climate Change is Roasting the Cocoa Belt
The cocoa belt in the West African tropical nations of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria is where the vast majority of the world’s cocoa is produced. Yet climate change is deeply affecting production, according to a recent article in the Grist. “Droughts, floods and plant diseases thrashing the region last year contributed to record cocoa prices, which in turn caused the cost of chocolate to jump, according to a report by the nonprofit Christian Aid, which works toward sustainable development and economic justice,” the Grist report states.
IWCA Hosting NCA Houston Event, Names Four Board Members
The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) is hosting its annual Breakfast Networking Event in conjunction with the National Coffee Association (NCA) convention in Houston next month. The breakfast, scheduled for 8-9:15 a.m. on Friday, March 7, is designed to allow guests to “connect, support, and celebrate the empowerment of women in coffee,” according to the nonprofit IWCA. Registration is available through the NCA registration page. The IWCA also recently named four new members to its global board of directors: Laura Brown, Anke Erichsen, Mbula Musau and Noelia Villalobos.
RoasterTools Creates Free Wholesale Pricing Tool for Roasters
Coffee software and solutions company RoasterTools just created a wholesale pricing tool for coffee roasters as green coffee prices continue to dictate pricing changes. The free pricing tool is available here.
Registration Opens for World of Coffee 2025 in Geneva
World of Coffee, Europe’s largest annual coffee trade show produced by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), opened attendee registration for its 2025 edition, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Palexpo SA from June 26-28. Registration for tickets is available here, and early bird discounts will be offered until March 31.
Bellwether Triples Customer Base in Year Since Launches Small Model
Electric roaster maker Bellwether said it has tripled its customer base, expanding to 12 countries and 20 U.S. states, since last year’s launch of its smaller-format machine called the Shop Roaster.
PRESS Releases New Panama Estate Coffees
Pheonix-based specialty coffee roaster Press Coffee announced the arrival of its first roasted coffee offering produced at the company’s recently acquired Panamanian farm, Volcan Valley Farm. The Press “estate coffee” will be offered on drip at all 19 Press retail locations in Arizona and sold in 12-ounce retail bags.
First Payout from Low Rainfall Insurance Policy in Vietnam
Private firms Willis and Global Parametrics announced the first ever payout of an innovative insurance policy distributed to coffee farmers in Vietnam who suffered losses due to low rainfall during the 2024 coffee growing season. Payouts were supported by the Natural Disaster Fund (NDF).
Embark on a Coffee Quest in Toledo, Ohio
Public commerce agency Destination Toledo (Ohio) is launching a coffee crawl campaign called Coffee Quest 419, taking place March 15 to June 15. Twenty nine local coffee shops are participating, with prizes available to patrons who visit the most shops.
Happy Belly Planning 25 New Smile Tiger Franchise Stores
Canadian quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise company Happy Belly Food Group is planning to open 25 new Smile Tiger Coffee Roaster outlets in Canada’s British Columbia, according to a Verdict Food Service report. Happy Belly acquired the one-location Smile Tiger company last month.
Golden Gate Acquires Coffee House
Vietnam-based restaurant brand Golden Gate has acquired The Coffee House, a coffee chain with 82 outlets spread across Vietnam’s two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, according to a Verdict Food Service report. The Coffee House had shut down a third of its outlets last year after failing to maintain profitability since the COVID-19 pandemic.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Master Roaster — Lucky Goat Coffee
- PRODUCTION ROASTER — Denim Coffee Company
- Technical Support Team Member — La Marzocco
- Sustainability Reporting Coordinator — Westrock Coffee Company
The 2024 Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide is Here
The 2024 edition of the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide recently came online, offering buyers and sellers of unroasted specialty coffee a data-backed resource for pricing discovery… read more
After Destruction in LA, Caffe Luxxe Says, ‘We Are Bent but Not Broken’
Amidst the torrent of socio-political and environmental issues that the Los Angeles wildfires have unleashed, the most enduring tragedy remains the loss of homes… read more
Study: Novel Smart Sensor Could Be Refined for Real-Time Espresso QC
A new study from Italy introduced a novel sensor for the chemical properties of coffee… read more
Missouri AG Sues Starbucks, Cites ‘More Female and Less White’ Workforce
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed suit against Starbucks Coffee Company last week, alleging unlawful hiring practices tied to diversity and inclusion… read more
With Franchising, Reborn Coffee Gets Commitments for 30 New US Locations
Southern California coffee chain Reborn Coffee said it has signed franchise development agreements for 30 new locations spanning nine U.S. states, plus three additional international locations… read more
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) Sues Westrock Coffee Over Trade Secrets
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the largest dairy farmers cooperative in the United States, filed a federal lawsuit against Arkansas-based coffee and beverage manufacturer Westrock Coffee, alleging theft of trade secrets… read more
Akron Coffee Roasters Openly Experiments at the ‘Coffee Lab’
In an environment that embraces innovation, Ohio’s Akron Coffee Roasters is workshopping new menu items and brewing experimental coffees at its fourth retail bar, The ACR Coffee Lab… read more
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