A FAST-GROWING artisan coffee roasting company has relocated as part of its long-term development plans.

York Coffee Emporium, which was acquired this spring by Selby-based vending machines and refreshments systems supplier the Upton Group, has moved to bigger, purpose-design premises at York Business Park, acquired outright in a £550,000 investment by the parent company.

The artisan coffee roaster, which operates throughout the UK, has relocated to 4,300 sq ft premises at Unit 4-5, Rose Centre, after outgrowing 1,100 leased premises at London Ebor Business Park, Nether Poppleton, where it was based for more than two years.

As well as a larger yard and parking area, the new premises comprise 3,800 sq ft for warehousing coffees imported from round the world and two additional roasting machines; offices, meeting rooms, a showroom and coffee laboratory used by Laurence Beardmore, Upton Group commercial director and former York Coffee Emporium managing director, for creating consistent high-quality coffees.

York Coffee Emporium, which has grown from £11,000 turnover in 2011 to a projected £1 million this financial year, supplies retail customers throughout the UK, including independent cafes, hotels, restaurants, businesses and tourist attractions.

Alec Upton, Upton Group chairman, who founded the company at his home 50 years ago, said: “We were customers of York Coffee Emporium for three years before the acquisition and it really was case of liking the product so much that we bought the business.

“We now need to grow together and the new premises are part of this strategy. Our aim is for York Coffee Emporium to achieve £3 million turnover in three years.”

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