Ugandan coffee brands make debut at Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich

What the report says

Ugandan coffee companies Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Carico Coffee made their first appearance at the Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich, where they sold branded coffee directly to consumers and showcased Uganda’s push to earn more value from exports. The event took place from October 31 to November 1 and was described by organisers as Switzerland’s largest coffee trade fair. Uganda’s embassy in Switzerland arranged the stand for the two firms.

According to Watchdog Uganda, the companies offered tastings, met prospective buyers and sold products on site. Uganda’s ambassador to Switzerland, Marcel Tibaleka, said the participation was meant to introduce more Ugandan coffee brands to Swiss consumers and build relationships with traders, roasters and buyers. The embassy said the festival also supports its wider effort to expand exports and promote value addition.

The report places the appearance in the context of Uganda’s coffee sector, which remains heavily dependent on raw bean exports. Watchdog Uganda noted that Uganda is Africa’s top coffee exporter by volume, while most of its coffee still leaves the country unroasted. The government has been encouraging roasting, processing and branded sales, and earlier this year launched a national coffee brand in Brussels. The article also identified the two companies’ sourcing models: Gorilla Conservation Coffee works with farmers near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while Carico Coffee buys from smallholder farmers in eastern Uganda.