We want to hire a person to take on the Alternative Coffee Co sales and marketing enthusiastically and incrementally grow our independent roaster network and the volumes of specialty green coffee we are able to bring in from six partnered cooperatives (3 in Uganda and 3 in Rwanda) for this vibrant and amazing sector across the UK.

Introduction - Who we are

The Alternative Coffee Co was established by a partnership between Ollema Fairer Farming Ventures and the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in 2021 to create a new kind of purchasing and relationship opportunity for independent, artisan and micro roasters around the UK to connect with, and buy specialty coffee from small holder farmer cooperatives. Our role is green bean wholesaler, and roaster-café support group, aiming to get genuine and motivating people and planet stories the farmers can relate through to the end consumer/coffee lovers.

What we want to achieve: We want to build a network and community of roasters who even if they regularly buy only a few bags can do so in a collaborative manner, giving farmers predictability and enabling Ollema to order growing and economic volumes to ship. In this way, we can hold stock for these roasters to draw down over the crop year.

Current Operations: There are two managers, one near Exeter (South West) and one in Glasgow (Scotland). We have a small team: a Finance Manager in London, a mix of paid staff and volunteers based in Scotland, the South West and the South East. Modest sales have started. There is expressed interest in joining the initiative in Wales and Greater London.

Marketing and Sales Assets: independent roaster listings, directories and database (with some of the independent cafes they sell to), we have a website and Instagram, coffee producer profiles, coffee quality reports, and coffee in stock to sale for prompt or forward delivery held at a major coffee warehouse in Norfolk.

All resources, training materials, presentations, photos and other assets are accessible on a team Dropbox. We have a client record system (CRM) and a samples dispatch system.

Mission:

Build up a network of independent roasters across the UK who regularly buy and roast our specialty green coffees sourced from smallholder specialty coffee cooperatives in Rwanda and Uganda.

Manage the sales, administration and delivery process to each independent roaster, building engagement and loyalty to our initiative. Offer excellent customer service and build long-term relationships.

Encourage cost effective collaborations between local roasters e.g. on joint deliveries, sample roasting

A full Job Description is available for download below.