Cafédirect coffee

Cafédirect is a pioneering British coffee brand that established itself as a leader in ethical trade. Founded in 1991, the company was the first coffee brand in the United Kingdom to carry the Fairtrade mark, emerging as a response to the 1989 collapse of the International Coffee Agreement. It was established by a coalition of four social enterprises—Oxfam, Traidcraft, Equal Exchange, and Twin Trading—with the goal of providing farmers with a fair price for their crops and a seat at the table in the global market.

While the raw materials—coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa—are sourced from smallholder cooperatives across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the brand's primary manufacturing and roasting operations are concentrated in the UK. Following the 2023 acquisition of Cafédirect Roastery Limited (formerly part of Bewley’s), the company operates a large-scale manufacturing facility in Meltham, Yorkshire. Ownership is unique in the industry; Cafédirect Plc is a multi-stakeholder business where coffee growers themselves hold significant shares and have direct representation on the Board of Directors, ensuring that the brand’s mission remains focused on the social and economic empowerment of its producers.