A joint press release said the acquisition will ‘drive sustainability and innovation’ across the coffee industry | Photo credit: Rodrigo Flores

Sucafina North America, the US subsidiary of Swiss coffee trader Sucafina Group, has acquired a 100% stake in Oregon-based green coffee importer Sustainable Harvest. 
 

Founded in 1997, Sustainable Harvest imports specialty coffee from around the world with a focus on creating transparent relationships that increase value throughout the supply chain while fostering greater financial and environmental sustainability.  

The pioneering company, which became the first coffee importer to become B-Corp-certified in 2008, will continue to operate independently. 

A joint press release said the acquisition will ‘drive sustainability and innovation’ across the coffee industry. 

Sucafina’s Head of Trading, Dave Behrends, added that Sucafina will benefit from having Sustainable Harvest as an independent platform ‘to innovate with more progressive ideas and technologies'. 

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. 

“Sustainable Harvest is rededicating itself to its core mission to support producers and roasters with traceable, transparent trading. With this acquisition, we are providing the stronger financial support they need to continue operating some of the most progressive sustainability initiatives in the industry, while maintaining their company independence and status as a B Corporation,” said Jordan Hooper, Managing Director, Sucafina North America.  

Sucafina has appointed Kat Nolte Ferguson, Managing Trader for Sucafina Specialty, as Managing Director of Sustainable Harvest, while Jorge Cuevas will continue in his leadership role as Chief Coffee Officer for the company.  

Sustainable Harvest Founder and CEO David Griswold will transition to an ‘innovation role’ with the global Sucafina Group. 

“Sustainable Harvest will continue to innovate and challenge the traditional trading model by building traceable and transparent supply chains that fully integrate from end to end. Together with Sucafina, we will continue our commitment to serving coffee farmers and roasters. The relationship coffee model, producer partners, and customers remain at the heart of all we do,” said Cuevas. 

In November 2022, Sucafina acquired a majority stake in Dutch instant coffee company TB Brown which it said would lead to TB Brown becoming Europe’s foremost sustainable private label instant coffee supplier.