Coffee roaster steams ahead in markets

Johnson Brothers (Belfast) Ltd, Northern Ireland, trading as Johnsons Coffee, has reported a rise in profit and turnover in its latest financial accounts. Pre-tax profit at the historic roasting and distribution company, based at Lisburn, county Antrim, has increased by a third.

The company, celebrating the centenary of its formation, posted a pre-tax profit of £375,555 for the year to 31 December 2012. This was up by 32.6 per cent compared with a pre-tax profit of £249,129 in the previous year. Turnover rose slightly from £23.9 million in 2011 to £24.6 million.

Johnsons Coffee's roots stretch back to the 1890s when the Johnson family sold groceries and imported goods from horse drawn carts around the streets of Belfast.

The business, which has won UK Great Taste Awards for its products, then began to import its own coffee beans and started coffee preparation in 1913 including the production of the iconic Irel brand of liquid coffee.

The company now employs 86 people and remains family owned. It has pioneered the development of a range of coffee products and the training of café staff through its Barista Academy.

In the directors' report, Johnsons Coffee said: "The directors consider both the results for the year and the prospects for the future as satisfactory."

During the year, the company was awarded a contract to provide coffee and catering at the Irish Open at Portrush by John Coughlan Catering. At the time of announcing the contract win, it said it expected to serve more than 50,000 cups of coffee at the event.