Louis Dreyfus Company creates JV for specialty coffee in Japan
Louis Dreyfus Company is a merchant and processor of agricultural goods, with a portfolio including grains and oilseeds, coffee, cotton, juice, rice, sugar, freight and global markets. It eyes up Japan as a fast-growing market for specialty coffees, saying the new JV will help it bring specialty coffees to the country.
“This partnership with Zephyr Japan represents LDC’s first venture in Japan,” said Ben Clarkson, LDC’s Global Head of Coffee. “It is also another positive step forward for our specialty business expansion, positioning LDC to increase premium coffee flows into Japan and East Asian markets.”
The global specialty coffee market is expected to exceed $83bn by 2025, with significant opportunities in Asia as coffee companies focus on offering customized, taste-based coffees.
Zephyr Japan is an importer and distributor of green bean coffee from around the world.
“We are excited to further extend our presence in Asia and enter the key consumer market for specialty coffees that is Japan, combining Zephyr Japan’s strong market knowledge and LDC’s expertise in sourcing top-quality, sustainably produced coffee beans,” said Ross Hawkins, LDC’s Global Head of Coffee Partnerships.
Last month Louis Dreyfus Company also signed a joint venture agreement with private label coffee company Instanta to build and operate a freeze-dried instant coffee plant in Binh Duong province, Vietnam.
