Union Hand-Roasted Coffee

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Union Hand-Roasted Coffee
TypePrivate
IndustryCoffee roasting
PredecessorTorz & Macatonia
FoundedStar Lane in East London, (14 June 2001 (2001-06-14)) --> Present
FounderJeremy Torz
Steven Macatonia
Headquarters
Star Lane, East London
,
UK
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsSpeciality Coffee, Single Origin Coffee, Microlot Coffee, Coffee Blends
ServicesCoffee, Coffee Roasting, Wholesale Supplier
Number of employees
50+
Websitewww.unionroasted.com

Union Hand-Roasted Coffee (formerly Union Coffee Roasters[1]) is a privately owned British coffee roasting business based in East London, United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2001 by Jeremy Torz and Steven Macatonia.[2] [3] Coffee House says the company "effectively bridges the definitions of independent and mainstream" as they work according to craft principles, but also sell their products in supermarkets.[4]

History

Jeremy Torz and Stephen Macatonia from the UK initially learnt about coffee in San Francisco during the early 1990s when they worked at Peet’s Coffee & Tea.[2][5][6] They found the Californian city to have a buzzing coffee scene, which was a stark contrast to the local coffee scene in the UK, which was at that time next to non-existent.

Before starting the business, Torz was an optician while Macatonia worked as an immunologist.[7] Both of them however were inspired by the coffee roasting scene, and though they originally intended to stay in the United States for six months, they remained there for four years. During the four years they learned much about the local coffee community, and the skill of coffee roasting and production.

They returned to the UK in 1994 and decided to leave their day jobs and start a small coffee roasting business, Torz and Macatonia. Due to their lack of experience in the retail sector, they started a wholesale company.

In 1995, they became the main supplier for The Seattle Coffee Company, the first major coffee shop chain in the UK.[6] Torz and Macatonia eventually merged with The Seattle Coffee Company in 1997 [8] which was then acquired by Starbucks in 1998.[9][10][11]

After some time Jeremy and Steven left in 2000. In 2001, they founded private company Union Coffee Roasters and in 2007, it was rebranded to Union Hand-Roasted Coffee.[12]

By 2005, the company was producing 11 different lines, four of which were special editions and seven of which were for sale in Sainsbury's, Asda, the Co-op and Somerfield.[13] In 2015 Union refreshed their brand to help "share the joy of good coffee[14]". As part of this they created a new company logo, revamped and rationalised their coffee range for Waitrose[15] and Ocado[16] and launched a new coffee subscription service known as CoffeeClub.[17]

On The High Street

Union Coffee supplies wholesale specialty coffee and barista training[18] Gail's Artisan Bakery,[19] Brasserie Blanc[20] and Peach Pubs.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Wake up and smell Union's artisan values". The Grocer. 21 April 2007.
  2. ^ a b Jenny Linford (8 October 2001). "Why they are full of beans; Like a Savile Row suit, you can buy bespoke coffee to suit your own palate. Jenny Linford meets two men who know a good roast when they make it". The Evening Standard.
  3. ^ "What We Do". www.unionroasted.com. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  4. ^ "State of the Union" (PDF). Coffee House. June 2011.
  5. ^ "The Truffler". The Independent. 2 March 2002.
  6. ^ a b Sheryl Garratt (8 September 2002). "Wake up and smell the money. Cappuccino, frappucino, skinny latte, ..." The Observer.
  7. ^ "Beachcomber". The Express. 20 October 2003.
  8. ^ "History of Coffee Part V - Speciality Coffee | Galla Coffee". www.gallacoffee.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-11-26.
  9. ^ "Starbucks to Buy U.K. Company -- Seattle Coffee Deal Opens Door into Europe | the Seattle Times".
  10. ^ "BBC News | the Company File | Starbucks storms into UK".
  11. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Branding Brief: Union Coffee Roasters renames itself | PR & public relations news | PRWeek". www.prweek.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-07.
  13. ^ "The best possible taste".
  14. ^ "The Entrepreneur: Jeremy Torz, Union Hand-Roasted Coffee - Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas". startups.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  15. ^ "Union Hand-Roasted revamps and rationalises coffee range". www.thegrocer.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  16. ^ "Union Hand-Roasted Coffee rebrands and relaunches premium retail range". Retail Times. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  17. ^ "Union Hand-Roasted Coffee launching CoffeeClub subscription service". Business Reporter. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  18. ^ "Barista Training". www.unionroasted.com. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  19. ^ "Drinks - GAIL's Bakery". GAIL's Bakery. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  20. ^ "Growth Capital: Forming a Union to source coffee that'll really". Evening Standard. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  21. ^ "OUR FOOD & DRINK | Peach Pubs". Peach Pubs. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
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