A Bristol-based coffee roaster plans to create jobs and become more sustainable after buying the building that houses its production roastery with a £1.1m funding package.
Clifton Coffee Roasters has been renting the premises at Avonmouth for the past eight years, during which it has enjoyed significant growth.
Now, after securing the funding from NatWest, it has been able to buy the entire building – including areas it was not previously using – so enabling it to step up its expansion and bring in new measures to make it more sustainable.
The additional space in the building on the Island Trade Park means it can add to its 31-strong workforce while it has already installed solar panels and moved to using packaging that is entirely recyclable.
It is also currently making the switch to electric delivery vehicles.
Founded in 2001 by managing director James Fisher, Clifton Coffee Company began by servicing espresso machinery in independent businesses around Bristol.
Director Ed Buston joined three years later and in 2013 it expanded into coffee roasting by opening its own in-house production roastery – a move that allowed it to concentrate solely on sourcing, roasting and supplying the world’s finest specialty coffees
The business, which now has an annual turnover of more than £7.5m, is at the forefront of the UK’s specialty coffee scene, supplying many of the leading retailers from independent specialty coffee shops to Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels across the country.
James Fisher said: “Clifton Coffee Roasters has always been a lifestyle business within the coffee industry and a company that Ed and I can enjoy running together.
“Business growth hasn’t always been at the forefront of our agenda but when the opportunity arose to purchase the building we rented we knew it was too good an opportunity to miss.
“Thanks to NatWest, we were able to purchase the site and, in doing so, gained much-needed additional space while also preventing our long-standing team from having to move to a new location.
“It’s also allowed us to focus on our goal of becoming a more sustainable and environmentally conscious business. It’s a very exciting time for us and our team, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.”
NatWest senior relationship manager Keem Lau said it was great to work with James, Ed and their team on the deal.
“Clifton Coffee Roasters is a business that aligns well with the bank’s core values, particularly as its principles are centred around making a positive economic, environmental and ethical impact,” he added.
“I’m confident they will continue to be a key player in the local business community, creating some fantastic new opportunities and building on its strong foundations to deliver continued success.
“Being a part of deals such as this one is always a pleasure, and I look forward to working with them again.”
Clifton Coffee suppliers and maintains some of the world’s leading manufacturers, including La Marzocco, La Spaziale, Victoria Arduino, Modbar, Mahlkönig, Compak, Fetco & Hario.
