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Bloomberg: Traders Explore Alternative Hedging Strategies
Bloomberg this week published a piece exploring alternative hedging techniques employed by coffee traders amidst this period of relatively high green coffee prices. “For a trader with cargo on a ship or awaiting final payment from an end-buyer, margin calls can drain their cash position quickly,” the story states. “Increasingly they’re turning to options and off-exchange solutions to avoid paying more collateral, or simply doing less business, according to traders and brokers.”
Mongabay Asks ‘What is Forest’ as Companies Prep EUDR Compliance
Environmental journalism organization Mongabay published a piece this week outlining several of the strategies and challenges facing large companies as they prepare for EUDR deforestation-free compliance. One of the primary challenges, according to sources in the story, is the very definition of “forests” under the new law.
Starbucks Struggles in China as Race to the Price Bottom Escalates
Starbucks’ second-largest coffee shop market, China, may be dwindling after two decades of rapid growth. According to a New York Times report, Chinese customers are eschewing Starbucks’ foreign offerings in favor of cheap offerings from domestic chains such as Luckin and Cotti.
Colombian Coffee Farmers Band Together to Protect the Spectacled Bear
Habitat loss caused by deforestation has led to the decline of the only bear species native to South America, the spectacled bear. In response, a group of Colombian coffee farmers in the Western Villa de Cauca region have switched from hunting to helping this threatened population by taking the lead on conservation and restoration efforts, partnering with We Conserve Life to encourage more sustainable farming practices.
Starbucks Affirms Commitment to India
Starbucks and its operating partner in India, Tata Consumer Products Ltd, have dispelled rumors that their combined company, Starbucks Tata Ltd., may be planning to exit the India market. “Tata Starbucks currently operates more than 470 stores in 76 cities across India, which continues to be a key growth market for Starbucks globally,” the companies said in a joint announcement.
Cuban Man Arrested for Smuggling Over a Thousand Pounds of Coffee
A man in Santiago de Cuba was arrested carrying over 1,000 pounds of clean coffee in a private vehicle. The man was unable to prove the legitimacy of his cargo, according to a Cibercuba report.
UN Profiles FEMNCAFÉ Producer Group in Colombia
The United Nations published a story this week highlighting FEMNCAFÉ, a federation of coffee producers led by former combatants who adhered to the 2016 Peace Agreement. “We are not just growing coffee,” Juan Camilo Lara, the coordinator of FEMNCAFÉ’s environmental sustainability strategy, said in the story. “We are growing peace.”
GCP & IHCAFE Sign Agreement Outlining Sustainability Goals
The Honduran Coffee Institute, IHCAFE, and the Global Coffee Platfom recently signed a letter of agreement, outlining their mutual dedication towards strengthening coffee sustainability in Honduras.
Dutch Bros Hires Venki Krishnababu as new Chief Technology and Information Officer
Drive-through coffee chain Dutch Bros. appointed retail veteran Venki Krishnababu its new Chief Technology and Information Officer. Krishnababu will be focused on customer experience by leading technology-related innovations, according to the company.
Commonplace Coffee Donates to Pittsburgh Parks
Pittsburgh-based specialty coffee company Commonplace Coffee stepped up to help raise funds for the city’s park conservancy on Dec. 20 after vandals damaged vehicles in its fleet. “Many of us at Commonplace Coffee are lovers of the great outdoors,” the company said in a fundraising campaign. “We are grateful to those who steward our local parks, allowing us to enjoy beautiful outdoor spaces.”
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
The Biggest Coffee Business News Stories of 2024
Historically high coffee prices, new regulations such as EUDR, climate change and increased demand of high-quality coffees squeezed coffee businesses of all sizes this year, creating what many characterized as a “challenging operating environment.”… read more
Best of ‘Three Questions’ 2024: Conversations with Coffee Leaders
Continuing our 2024 Year in Review, here are some highlights from our ongoing “Three Questions With” series, which features people doing amazing work in all corners of the coffee world… read more
2024 Year In Review: 10 New Coffee Shops on the US West Coast
Continuing DCN’s 2024 Year in Review, here are 10 exciting new coffee shops that opened up in the U.S. West Coast states in 2024… read more
2024 Year In Review: 10 New Coffee Shops in the US Midwest
Continuing DCN’s 2024 Year in Review, here are 10 exciting new coffee shops that opened throughout the Midwest United States in 2024… read more
2024 Year In Review: 10 New Coffee Shops in the US Northeast
Kicking off DCN’s 2024 Year in Review, here are 10 exciting new coffee shops that opened throughout the United States Northeast in 2024… read more
2024 Year In Review: 10 New Coffee Shops in the US Southeast
Continuing DCN’s 2024 Year in Review, here are 10 exciting new coffee shops that opened throughout the Southeastern United States in 2024… read more
The Co-Founder of Charlotte’s Giddy Goat Coffee is Also a Paralympic Medalist
When not running a booming coffee business, the co-founder of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters is likely to still be running, or biking, or perhaps swimming… read more
