Welcome to the 4th episode of a five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro by the Map It Forward Podcast, hosted by Lee Safar.
Our guest in this series is Anne Djerai, the CEO of Metropolis Coffee Company, based in Chicago. Anne was invited to the podcast after a recent LinkedIn post describing the impact of market volatility on a company like Metropolis Coffee Company which has been around for 20+ years.
In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Anne explore complex themes around the coffee industry, such as the challenges and misconceptions associated with selling to big retailers like Costco.
Ann explains the rigorous operational and pricing standards required to penetrate Costco's market and defends the decision against accusations of 'selling out.' The discussion also tackles the inherent conflict between grocery retail and specialty coffee, largely fueled by the industry's self-imposed myths regarding coffee quality and freshness.
Additionally, Ann shares insightful strategies on how Metropolis has adapted through innovation, such as producing compostable Nespresso capsules, and emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships in the supply chain.
With references to past episodes and other influential figures in the industry, this engaging conversation is a deep dive into the evolving landscape and future of specialty coffee.
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