UCC Coffee: Research

What is UCC?

UCC is Japan’s largest producer of coffee and is responsible for £2bn annual sales turnover globally and 7,300 employees, including 30+ Q-graders and World Siphonist Champions. It supplies some of the world’s leading companies in retail, out of home and industrial markets and owns successful retail and out of home brands – Source

About Grand Café

Grand Café is a specific range created by UCC Coffee which is 100% traceable to its origin and fully certified to be ethically and sustainably suited to be fair-trade to the land and farmers who grow their coffee.

Vision: To be the most respected certified coffee brand in the out of home market.

Brand Concept: Promoting the social and economic benefits of certified coffee whilst providing a feel good factor and peace of mind.

Reasons to Believe: Committed to industry certifications FT, Organic and RFA; solid taste test performer; our best-selling branded product range

Brand Personality: educated/knowledgeable/travelled/down to earth/respected/direct/academic/possesses gravitas

Tone of Voice: friendly/accessible/no jargon/matter of fact

Sustainability

UCC Coffee source certified sustainable coffees from farms and cooperatives across the world, which are each 100% traceable to their origin. Their ethical credentials include, Fairtrade Rainforest Alliance and Soil Association. This in turn makes their coffee fair for growers, the environment and their customers.

UCC Coffee are also dedicated to improving their resource efficiently throughout the life cycle of production. Their packaging is part of the Comply Direct compliance shame which means that their machines are selected for their energy efficiency. They also continue to cut their carbon emissions from their roasters and fleets too.

The company select their partners and suppliers carefully who are as dedicated to the environment as UCC Coffee. Amazingly they even recycle all of their water filters through one of their partners BRITA Professional, whom have more recently achieved zero landfill status.

Target Audience

The ideal target audience are businesses who are ethically aware, this includes non-branded coffee shops, cafés, pubs, quick service restaurants and contract catering. UCC Coffee does not sell directly to consumers however, the nature of Grand Café means that it is only available to companies who comply with their corporate responsibility requirements. More recently more and more businesses are becoming aware of their impact through their buying choices and looking for a coffee that promotes sustainability in the industry.

Core Products: 

Grand Café Rainforest 500g

Tasting notes: Chocolately, sweet, with a hint of its slow roast, gives this blend real character. Bright and balanced with citrus hints and a clean and balanced aftertaste.

The source: Colombia, Honduras, Brazil

Grand Café Fairtrade 

Tasting notes: Deep, intense coffee with a full body and lasting taste.
The source: Colombia, Vietnam, Peru

Grand Café Triple Certified 

Tasting notes: Rich, balanced coffee with red fruit top notes and a sweet creamy finish.

The source: Peru, Guatemala, Sumatra

 
Grand Café Fairtrade Decaf 

Tasting notes: A clean mouth feel with a hint of sweet watermelon. All the flavour but without the caffeine.

The source: Peru

History

“UCC Coffee UK & Ireland has been operating in the UK coffee market for over 20 years, but wehave not always been known by the same name.

In 2010, First Choice Coffee – the UK’s OOH coffee market leader – and Gala Coffee – the country’s largest retail own label roaster – merged to become United Coffee UK & Ireland and part of the United Coffee European Group.

Having operated independently, the combined strength of both businesses and ambitious growth plans, led to the transformation of United Coffee into the UK’s leading total coffee solution provider.

In 2012, United Coffee Group was acquired by UCC Holdings Co Ltd. (UCC), to create one of the top five biggest independent coffee companies in the world. Following the acquisition, United Coffee retained its identity before rebranding as UCC Coffee UK & Ireland in 2014. – Source