Coffee pod specialist wins backing for faster growth


Pure Roast Coffee, the Northern Irish coffee pod producer, aims to grow sales abroad as a result of a new business plan being implemented during 2013. The company, which is based at Lisburn, near Belfast, has also received backing from the Growth Loan Fund in Northern Ireland to help accelerate growth in exports.



Pure Roast, now a leading supplier of espresso pods and beans for foodservice operators and equipment suppliers, aims to expand its share of the 'single serve' coffee market. Customers of its coffee pods already include international airline Emirate Airlines.



Martin Symington, Pure Roast managing director and founder of the business, said the company, now in its third year, had tried to obtain funding from banks before turning to the Growth Loan Fund, which has £50 million to lend over the next five years.



"We found it impossible for banks to lend us money, even though we were profitable in our second and third year," he said."The funding from the Growth Loan Fund really has been a godsend."



He says the single-service market is "the fastest-growing coffee market out there". The coffee, which is roasted by the firm, is contained in tiny aluminium pods.



Mr Symington said the funding had enabled it to invest in a specialist 'roll mill' coffee grinder from Chicago, costing $150,000, to enable it to expand its portfolio and production capacity.



Finance for the fund, which is aimed at providing funding to established small and medium-sized businesses, is provided by Invest Northern Ireland, the region's business development agency, and the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).



The company has British Retail Consortium (BRC) Grade A and last year secured substantial business for over seven million 'easy serve espresso' coffee pods a year from two major companies in London, bringing the total number of pods produced to 12 million pods a year.



In addition, one of the largest UK vending operators placed a contract for 120 tonnes of Arabica coffee beans a year with Pure Roast Coffee.



The company has experienced 75 per cent year-on-year growth since formation by Mr Symington in 2009.