Uganda’s Gorilla Conservation and Carico exhibit at Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich

What the report says

Ugandan coffee brands Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Carico Coffee made their debut at the Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich, according to The Independent Uganda. The event ran from October 31 to November 1 and marked Uganda’s first appearance at the festival, which organisers describe as Switzerland’s largest coffee trade fair. The Uganda embassy in Switzerland helped secure the stand for the two firms, which used the event to offer tastings, meet potential buyers and sell coffee directly to consumers.

The report says the appearance fits a wider push by Ugandan officials and companies to earn more from coffee by moving beyond exports of unroasted beans. Uganda is Africa’s top coffee exporter by volume, and the article cites government and industry data showing that most of its coffee still leaves the country as green beans. Officials argue that roasting, branding and other forms of processing abroad capture much of the value that could remain in Uganda.

The embassy said the Zurich showcase should help expand exports and promote value addition. Ambassador Marcel Tibaleka said the goal is to introduce more Ugandan coffee brands to Swiss consumers and build longer-term ties with traders, roasters and buyers. The article also notes that Uganda has been promoting its national coffee brand in Europe and encouraging investment in roasting and soluble coffee.

For context, the piece highlights two companies with distinct sourcing models: Gorilla Conservation Coffee works near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while Carico Coffee says it buys from smallholder farmers in eastern Uganda’s Mount Elgon region. The story presents Switzerland as an increasingly important market for Uganda’s coffee promotion efforts.