A YORK based coffee business is looking to expand its team after growing turnover fortyfold in just two-and-a-half years.

York Coffee Emporium has increased its revenues from £11,000, when husband-and-wife business partners, Laurence and Philippa Beardmore, acquired the business in 2011, to a projected £500,000 this financial year.

Of this year's turnover, £80,000 has already been re-invested to acquire the latest coffee roasting technology, a packaging machine and to upgrade the premises to enhance customer service.

Now the enterprise, which estimates that as much as 25 per cent of its growth has come through introductions at York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce networking events, is planning to expand its five-strong team by recruiting a part-time coffee roaster and a full-time administrator.

York Coffee Emporium, based in Nether Poppleton, imports and hand-roasts coffees from around the world and sources and sells loose speciality teas to retail customers throughout the UK, including hotels, theatres and tourist attractions in York and North Yorkshire, to wholesale buyers and individuals who buy through its e-commerce site.

Mr Beardmore, a former engineer and full-time coffee enthusiast, said: "We are growing rapidly but are not arrogant. The market for high-quality artisan coffees is expanding and we’re capitalising on this. We know we’ll have to keep doing things better to continue our expansion.

"We acquired the enterprise from a sole trader who had deliberately kept it as a small operation, and our work is enabling the business to achieve its potential in line with demand, although we do believe we’re supplying fantastic products backed by a top-class service which the market expects.

"A significant proportion of our growth, we estimate about a quarter, has come through joining York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

"The introductions we have made at networking events is far better than cold-calling as we’ve met decision makers.

“As I’d worked on a national basis, we wanted to be in York to become part of a business community and must say that, in the artisan foods and related sectors, there are some seriously talented people which the region should be proud of.”

Head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Susie Cawood, added: "Laurence and Philippa at York Coffee Emporium put their passion for coffee into their enterprise which inspires people who meet them and converts to sales. We’re pleased to be playing a role in their success."