Cafe Imports Transitions to Employee Ownership Through ESOP Model

Green coffee importer Cafe Imports announced that it has transitioned to 100 percent employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Barista Magazine reported that the move involves an employer-sponsored retirement plan that holds company shares for employees, which are paid out when an employee leaves or retires. [1]

The importer has been operating since 1993, Barista Magazine reported. The company previously attained B Corporation certification in 2023. According to the publication, Cafe Imports stated that the transition to employee ownership reflects its ongoing mission. [1]

Coffee remains a vital agricultural commodity globally, with tens of millions of small producers relying on the crop for their livelihood. Over 90 percent of world coffee production occurs in developing countries, whereas consumption takes place primarily in industrialized economies. [2]