The Glasgow-based coffee roaster has installed dozens of bean-to-cup and traditional espresso machines on 13 CalMac vessels and expects the deal to serve up 500,000 cups of coffee a year
Matthew Algie has unveiled a new partnership with Scottish ferry firm CalMac to supply its 13 vessels with coffee and brewing equipment.
The Glasgow-based coffee roaster has installed 42 coffee machines across CalMac’s onboard cafés. Bean-to-cup machines will serve Matthew Algie’s Italian coffee blend, Piacetto, while CalMac’s on-board baristas will serve the group’s ethically sourced Peak & Wild coffee on manual espresso machines.
In a press release, Matthew Algie said the deal will see more than half a million cups of premium coffee served to passengers and staff aboard CalMac ships every year. Additionally, CalMac will also open a café at Ardrossan Port to serve customers before they embark on their journey.
“We’re honoured to have been chosen for this significant partnership that will provide passengers from around the world who are visiting some of Scotland’s most picturesque island locations with a product from a proudly Scottish supplier. Looking ahead, we see potential to expand our presence across the growing CalMac fleet, and possibly move into further contracts in this key Scottish sector,” said Paul Chadderton, Managing Director of Sales and Marketing, Matthew Algie.
Founded in 1864, Matthew Algie is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest coffee roasters with over 12,000 wholesale customers, including garden centre group Dobbies, the National Trust for Scotland and high street retail giant M&S. Part of German coffee giant Tchibo Group since 2016, approximately 90% of Matthew Algie’s green coffee comes from Fairtrade co-operatives.
In September 2024, Matthew Algie unveiled a major coffee factory upgrade with a focus on efficiency and eco-friendly production as it works to boost capacity and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
