Lavazza operates around 50 ‘coffee universities’ worldwide | Photo credit: Lavazza

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Lavazza has opened its first professional training facility in Canada. Located in Toronto, the Lavazza Training Center offers training and education to hospitality professionals, baristas and distributors, including the correct usage of Lavazza products, coffee education courses, and career development. The space will also be used for coffee tasting and onboarding new customers.

The facility, which forms part of Lavazza's strategy to grow its North American customer base, joins a portfolio of around 50 ‘coffee universities’ worldwide. Located across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the US, the centres provide training to approximately 30,000 people each year and are designed to provide a ‘benchmark for professionals in the catering industry’.

“By training accomplished professionals, researching a unique and perfect quality espresso, and experimenting with new forms of taste, we can continue to deliver the Lavazza experience that our customers have come to know, love and expect,” said Davide Riboni, President & CEO BU Americas for Lavazza.

Highlighting Lavazza’s ambitions in the North American market, the Italian coffee giant opened training centres in Los Angeles and New York in 2021, with further locations planned for Miami and Chicago over the coming year.

Lavazza is also due to open an enlarged roasting and packing facility in Pennsylvania, USA, which the company says will allow it to become more agile in the North American market by reducing reliance on coffee imports from Italy.