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HOT BEVERAGES FROM PAGE 30 “Since 1962, we’ve continued to embody the same ethos: a pioneering spirit, connection with our community and a passion for great quality coffee,” she said. “We’re dedicated to sourcing, roasting and delivering the best single origin and blended coffees in Australia.” On the topic of sustainability, Ms Byrne notes what she says is the “most pressing” concern she has about the coffee category: the negative impact of capsules/pods on the environment. “While some capsules are recyclable, the sad fact is only five per cent of capsules are truly recycled,” she said. “This is why we’ve been unyielding in our desire to bring a capsule to the market that’s compostable while delivering on flavour and quality.” Grinders’ compostable capsules are said to be a “giant step forward” in bringing progress and innovation to the coffee category. “While some capsules are recyclable, the sad fact is only five per cent of capsules are truly recycled.” “All retailers, manufacturers and consumers alike are becoming less tolerant of unsustainable and unethical sourcing,” Ms Byrne said. “Grinders sets high standards for its corporate sustainability agenda and holds itself to account all the way through our ecosystem. Our entire grocery range of coffee is ethically sourced through Rainforest Alliance and almost all our retail packaging is fully recyclable through our RedCycle partnership or compostable, with a target for this to be 100 per cent by 2025.” Following lockdowns and restrictions, Ms Byrne believes it’s important that suppliers and retailers see a real opportunity to encourage more consumers to seek a better coffee experience at home. “We’ve seen an increase in Australians buying coffee brewing equipment for their homes, as well as capsules and beans, and for Grinders, we see this as an opportunity to lead from the front and engage with consumers through education and digital platforms as well as in cafes and retailers,” she said. “I also believe suppliers and retailers need to be committed to driving sustainability within the coffee category and not just offer a great coffee experience today but also for tomorrow and the future. And offering more sustainable choices for consumers is vital for longevity for the business, and more importantly, for our environment.” Keeping it fresh Ms de Leeuw says FreshFood has had a long history of success with its brands The House of Robert Timms and Bushells Coffee. “We’re fully committed to the coffee category and investing in manufacturing and state-of-art facilities to grow our segments by being the quality and fresh offering preferred by customers,” she said. In terms of challenges, Ms de Leeuw notes that Australian coffee consumers are very mature in their coffee approach, and with this in mind, FreshFood must 32 RETAIL WORLD MAY, 2021