USA: Peet's Coffee and Tea to build roasting facility in Virginia

Peet's Coffee & Tea, the US firm selling teas, coffees and related accessories, is to build a new roasting facility in the state of Virginia in order to better serve consumers on the east coast, according to an article in the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

The new 175,000-sq ft roastery in the city of Suffolk is the result of a $58 million investment and will create 135 jobs. Peet's Coffee & Tea said the new plant would sustain growth momentum, meet increased demand and support a key brand tenet of ensuring that consumers enjoy the freshest coffee as close as possible to its roast date.

Commenting on the move, Peet's Coffee & Tea CEO Dave Burwick said: "Financing the development of an East Coast Roastery in Suffolk, Virginia – our first outside of our LEED Gold certified location in Alameda, California – is a strategic investment in the company. Suffolk is the perfect location to support our high-quality standards while ensuring that the freshest beans are made available to our east coast consumers much more quickly than today".

Source: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal