![]() ![]() The business has absorbed a “significant amount” of price increases, only passing on a relatively small amount to the market. Schirato says this cost compounds compared to some of Vittoria Coffee’s competitors and smaller roasters who can potentially buy cheaper coffees or substitute origins to mitigate cost increases, which Schirato says Vittoria Coffee can’t, and won’t do. On top of the normal base price and stock exchange, the company is buying specialty coffee from multiple different origins. Vittoria Coffee has never wavered on the quality of coffee it sources, using only 100 per cent Arabica coffee. Collectively, this makes for tough conditions for coffee businesses,” Schirato says. Like most Australian roasters importing green beans, we’re having to deal with missing shipping vessels and other disruptions. “We’ve been an importer of green beans since we started roasting in Australia 1958, so a strong supply chain is one of our core competencies. Thankfully, Schirato says Vittoria Coffee has been lucky to bypass any major green bean shipment delays. Prices are one thing, then add on freight increases, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and a whole raft of other headwinds right after COVID-19 where sales were affected. The combined effects of foreign exchange and rising coffee prices are the two biggest variables and impacts to any roaster’s bottom line.” This time, we’re seeing coffee pricing at similar levels or higher combined with a weaker Australian dollar, currently at US$0.64 cents today (at time of interview). We experienced the same situation about 12 years ago but that time, the United States dollar was pretty much at parity with the Australian Dollar, which helped us and many other Australian roasters. Coffee is priced in US dollars and they’re the highest they’ve been in over 10 years. “Coffee pricing is definitely the number one issue coffee roasters are facing at the moment. “I think everyone was hoping to have a bit of respite after COVID, but actually this year has probably been harder than the past two years,” Schirato tells Global Coffee Report. While the COVID-19 pandemic rattled a few businesses, for those that have seen growth and strong performance since, Schirato says there’s been little reprieve. ![]() We produce locally, we roast locally, we try to use local suppliers as much as possible.” ![]() “Sometimes there’s a perception that we’re a big multinational that operates offshore, but we’re proud to be family operated. “We remain a family business, 100 per cent privately owned, Australian owned, Australian roasted,” says Managing Director Rolando Schirato. ![]() For some markets, it meant consolidation, and for others, it brought renewed attention to the value of being local, such as Vittoria Coffee, who has helped pioneer the development of Australia’s coffee industry since 1958. The global pandemic was a time of reflection, reinvention, and rejuvenation for many businesses. Vittoria Food & Beverage Managing Director Rolando Schirato talks about the reality of navigating a business post-pandemic, top issues impacting roasters, and where to next for the third-generation company. ![]()
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