There are a handful of companies in the world that regard developing better coffee as a much more urgent problem than unlocking the secrets of the atom and Surrey-based FFI the coffee people is one of them

Indeed, whilst the average consumer might not be aware of the fact, FFI in tandem with its sister company, FFI (Manufacturing) Ltd, is the ‘silent partner’ to a number of the UK’s leading retail multiples and symbol groups, developing and supplying a wide range of high quality ‘retailer brands’ for an increasingly sophisticated market.

As a part of the Hamburg based Cafea Group, FFI enjoys the backing and support of one of the coffee industry’s major players. The Cafea Group is an organisation whose roots go back to the same year that Puccini composed his opera La Boheme and the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, 1896. And it was during this auspicious year that Johann Dietrich Rothfos founded a small business – Im Grunen Tal – in the village of St. Magnus near Bremen.

In 1922 his son, Bernhard Rothfos, began his internationally renowned trade in green coffee and, in 1955, he founded Deutsche Extrakt Kaffee (DEK) in Hamburg. In 1956, his son Jan Beernd Rothfos took over the management of the business, and in 1981 he founded Cafea, formally KORD for the co-ordination of European production plants and companies.

With expertise in time-saving and long-life soluble coffees and soluble coffee drinks, like cappuccinos, the Cafea Group is a company that specialises in successful private brands for leading retail businesses around the world. From its HQ in Hamburg, a major centre for world coffee trading, the Cafea Group co-ordinates the green coffee purchases for its production companies in Germany, Belgium, Poland and the UK and has recently acquired a freeze – dried coffee plant and coffee plantation in Venezuela.

The UK arm incorporates the European Coffee Corporation, which is the holding company for both FFI and FFI(M) : the latter being the group’s sales and marketing operation for Britain’s own label sector. The European Coffee Corporation is itself a subsidiary of the Cafea Group.

The top team are David Moulder (Chief Executive) Austin Sugarman (Sales and Marketing Director) and Gerald Annetts, (Finance Director).

FFI the coffee people is a story in its own right, having achieved a significant share of both the soluble and roast & ground coffee markets within the ‘Retailer brand’ sector. It has, for some years, enhanced its reputation by playing a similar leading role in the hot chocolate drinks business.

FFI(M) is based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, where it houses a state-of-the-art instant coffee production facility that includes an ultra-modern agglomeration plant. The British market, of course, primarily demands soluble coffee in granular form. Coffee granules are produced by joining together the fine particles of spray-dried coffee. Agglomerated coffee has an improved appearance and also a very high degree of solubility.

In addition to processing, FFI(M) packages the coffee, with the excellent quality and strong visual impact of its products ensuring that the consumer can purchase retailer brand coffees that taste great and offer wonderful value for money.

Retailer branded products are of the very highest quality and account for around 40% of all consumer purchases. When it all began in the 1960s, however, ‘own label’ basically meant ‘cheap and cheerful’ – at least in the eyes of the consumer. What’s more, the market was entirely 100% in powder form and packaged solely in tins. As the consumer became more sophisticated, though, fuelled by such things as low price global travel and ‘lifestyle’ television programmes, things began to change.

Initially, instant coffee became popular because of its ease of preparation and its attractive price per cup. As the industry moved forward, though, the further upmarket the product went, the greater its overall acceptability as an all-day drink, and the closer its resemblance in flavour to properly prepared fresh coffee. Too often – even today – fresh, regular coffee is badly made, or left to go stale. With soluble coffee you can more easily guarantee the flavour.

This swing towards quality is underlined by the fact that the ratio of arabica to robusta in the importation of raw coffees into the UK has been reversed: now comprising roughly 60% arabica and 40% robusta.

In addition, the retailer’s name is now a guarantee of quality, and this means that they need to source first class suppliers for their coffee: suppliers who can meet their product development aspirations, demanding service levels, - quick turnaround of orders and punctual deliveries – and the requirements of the 1990 Food Act.

In order to achieve this, retailers need to find suppliers that have the very latest manufacturing facilities, genuine creative ability, and an unrivalled commitment to customer service. Or to put it another way, they need FFI with the range of manufacturing and product development resources.

In every sector, retailer brands are providing superior quality and diversification, and, whether in country of origin coffees or in cappuccino or espresso, they are delivering the promise of ever-improving flavours and aromas.

FFI the coffee people are at the forefront of this exciting trend, playing their own important part in ensuring that the British food and drink industry remains the world’s No.1 in terms of choice, quality and value.

But don’t just take our word for it! See our products on the shelves of all the major high street retailers, cash and carries, wholesalers and manufacturers nationwide.

We have 14 factories throughout the UK and Europe, so wherever you are based, you know that the quality service we provide is never far away. Our qualified personnel are always on hand to provide support in your sales and marketing operations and we pride ourselves on our expertise in private label and retail category management.

We like to do things properly here at FFI. All our factories are accredited to the BRC standard. We are accredited by the Soil Association for our organic coffee and chocolate drinks and we have a range of products that are sold according to FAIRTRADE guidelines, which respect the interests of producers.

This extends to everything we do, from the way we produce our goods to the relationships we enjoy with our customers and suppliers. Whatever your requirements for hot beverages, we would love to help. Our reputation within the industry and our unblemished track record should give you every confidence that we can.

Our Company History

FFI, in tandem with its sister company, FFI ( Manufacturing ) Ltd, supplies over 50 blue-chip customers throughout the UK, including leading retail multiples and symbol groups, with a broad portfolio of high quality ‘retailer brands’. Within this brief, the company has developed 400 different lines that include 75 different coffee blends, 50 roast and ground products, plus 40 other hot beverage products/blends.

As part of the Hamburg based Cafea Group, FFI(M) enjoys the backing and support of one of the European coffee industry’s major corporations, with 14 factories located around the world - six of which are Soil Association approved - and a reputation for unrivalled quality and service.

With expertise in time-saving and long-life soluble coffees and soluble coffee drinks, the Cafea Group is a company that specialises in successful private brands for leading retail businesses around the world. From its HQ in Hamburg, a major centre for world coffee trading, the Cafea Group co-ordinates coffee purchases for its production companies in Germany, Belgium, Venezuela, Poland and the U.K.

The UK arm incorporates European Coffee Corporation Ltd, which is the holding company for both FFI(M) and FFI : the latter being the group’s selling and marketing operation for Britain’s private label sector.

Our Strengths

One of the main strengths of the European Coffee Corporation is its commitment to research and development, with technologists constantly working on new and better products. Innovate or die. And this represents the philosophy upon which the entire organisation operates, the company anticipate demands in the world market and are in the forefront of the industry as regards new products, packing solutions and marketing trends. FFI understands its clients’ expectations and work hand-in-hand with them to create successful brands - their brands.”

A Seamless Operation

FFI, based at Kingston-upon-Thames, is essentially a service company, pulling together several different strands in order to create a high quality, seamless operation that gives its clients both a competitive edge and total peace of mind.

David Moulder, Chief Executive of FFI says, “The retailer’s name is now a guarantee of quality, and this means that they need to source first class suppliers for their coffee; suppliers who can meet their product development aspirations, demanding service levels, - quick turnaround of orders and punctual deliveries - and the requirements of the 1990 Food Act.”

The Future

The future looks genuinely exciting for FFI, with the company’s main objective being to develop sales of instant coffee for factories within the Cafea Group, and generally to expand the business over the next few years. This will incorporate diversification into the food service, catering and vending industries, as well as looking for innovative opportunities to market other products for its customers.

The first known coffee advertisement, a handbill produced in 1652 (the original is in the British Museum), proclaimed that coffee ‘quickens the spirits and makes the heart lightsome .... Is good against sore eyes .... Neither laxative nor restringent.' Indeed, with such a fine marketing campaign, it is little wonder that coffee gained its first real popularity as a beverage in the coffee houses of London.

It seems quite apt then that today, just a little way down the Thames, FFI is continuing a long tradition of marketing one of the world’s most popular products to an increasingly sophisticated market.