Family-run coffee company in the North targets US market

A family-run coffee producer in the North has secured a foothold in the world’s biggest coffee market – the USA.

Johnson’s Coffee has been listed by the Tree of Life natural and organic foods specialist retail and distribution business, it was announced today.

As a result, natural and gourmet food enthusiasts in the US will soon be able to enjoy the distinctive flavour of coffee roasted by the Lisburn-based company.

Celebrating the export boost Philip Mills, the company business director, said: “Gaining a Tree of Life listing is a major breakthrough for us in the world’s biggest coffee market.

“Tree of Life is the premier wholesale distributor and marketer of natural and organic foods in the south-eastern United States with sales in excess of 430 million. It has now expanded across the US, providing us with an enormous marketing opportunity.”

Johnson’s used an Invest NI trade mission to Washington in May as a springboard to the wider US market.

Mr Mills said: “What we now have to do is to build on this relationship and develop the opportunity that this provides to sell our distinctive range of coffee products to the business and its network of distributors.”

Invest NI’s director of trade, Alan Hingston, said the success clearly demonstrated how a smaller local company can compete successfully in even the most sophisticated markets by offering something different.

“Johnson’s is among a cluster of smaller food companies which are using our extensive knowledge of the US market and our well-established mission programme to develop business there.

“Among other successful companies are Fivemiletown Creamery and Classic Mineral Water Company in Lisburn,” he said.

Research showed, he said, that substantial opportunities were developing for Northern Ireland companies in the US because of the growing demand from customers in niche markets such as natural, gourmet, ethnic and speciality foods.

Johnson’s, who have been roasting coffee since the early 1900s, imports the highest grades of pure Arabic coffees from around the globe, including Colombia, Kenya and Indonesia.