On November 13, 2014, Sarah Beaubien, Director of Sustainability for Farmer Bros. Co. (“Farmer Brothers”) and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), led a breakout session at ISSP’s 2014 conference in Denver. The panel’s topic, “Building Resiliency in Supply Chain Communities: A New Hub for Thought Leadership, Investment and Action,” is one close to Beaubien’s job and heart.
As Farmer Brothers’ representative for the Coffeelands Food Security Coalition (CFSC), Beaubien, along with her fellow panelists – Jennifer Gallegos of Fair Trade USA, and Mary Beth Cote-Jenssen of Water For People – profiled the challenging social and economic realities facing coffee growing communities around the world, and offered the audience examples of emerging best practices that are designed to repair, encourage and support survival and perpetuation of the coffee supply chain between growers and customers.
Beaubien observed, “When companies join together to identify the challenges, needs and opportunities related to sustainability and economic resiliency in and around coffee communities, the results are a positive shift in their development trajectory. When global coffee communities can thrive, there is reciprocity and the entire coffee industry benefits.”
In addition to her membership in one of the world’s leading associations for sustainability professionals, Beaubien is the prime mover and public face of Farmer Brothers’ sustainability initiatives, directing the company’s efforts to invest in the biodiversity of coffeelands, building the strength of grower communities, and planning for the long-term health of the planet. “Encouraging the production of high-quality, responsibly-grown coffee is a key part of a well-balanced sustainability model. Farmer Brothers’ coffee buying philosophy aims to build a responsible coffee supply chain and create long-term solutions that benefit the growers, sellers and buyers,” she stated.
Beaubien’s panel discussion reinforced Farmer Brothers’ ongoing commitment to coffee sustainability, leadership and collaboration around the globe. Given the need for companies to source raw materials across a vast number of geographies, there is an increasing need to understand the impact on those communities whose livelihoods depend on company investment.
For more information about Farmer Brothers and its responsible sourcing and sustainability initiatives, contact Marianna Zhupleva at mzhupleva@farmerbros.com. For more information about Farmer Brothers’ responsibly sourced coffees and sustainability initiatives, visit www.farmerbros.com/our-story/sustainability/.
About Farmer Bros. Co.
Founded in 1912, Farmer Bros. Co. (the “Company” or “Farmer Brothers”) is a manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of coffee, tea and culinary products. The Company is a direct distributor of coffee to restaurants, hotels, casinos, offices, quick service restaurants (“QSR's”), convenience stores, healthcare facilities and other foodservice providers, as well as private brand retailers in the QSR, grocery, drugstore, restaurant, convenience store, and independent coffee house channels. The Company's product line includes roasted coffee, liquid coffee, coffee-related products such as coffee filters, sugar and creamers, assorted iced and hot teas, cappuccino, cocoa, spices, gelatins and puddings, soup bases, dressings, gravy and sauce mixes, pancake and biscuit mixes, and jellies and preserves.
Headquartered in Torrance, Calif., Farmer Bros. Co. generated net sales of over $500 million in fiscal 2014 and has approximately 1,800 employees nationwide. The Company's primary brands include Farmer Brothers™, Artisan Collection by Farmer Brothers™, Superior®, Metropolitan™, Cain's™ and McGarvey™. For more information, visit: www.farmerbros.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements.” When used in this press release, the words “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and “believes,” and similar expressions and statements that are made in the future tense or refer to future events or developments, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
