12.05.2007 - 04:00pm ET

(CSRwire) ADDIS ABABA/JERSEY - December 5, 2007 - A long-standing member of the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and active in the Fairtrade Federation, the coffee and tea merchant Cooper & Co. has joined Ethiopia's network of licensed distributors. The company is based in Jersey, one of the independent Channel Islands, which enjoys a worldwide reputation for good living, fine cuisine and quality restaurants and cafes. Coopers has recently signed a licensing agreement with Ethiopia becoming one of 34 licensed distributors of Ethiopia's trademarked heritage coffees - Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Harrar.

The licensing agreement is part of the Ethiopian Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative, an effort to enable coffee farmers and those involved in the trade to capture a greater share of the retail price that Ethiopian fine coffees earn in foreign markets. By forming partnerships with coffee companies and distributors worldwide who sell these premium coffees, for the first time Ethiopian farmers are becoming aware of where their coffee is being sold and how it is being promoted.

"We are so very pleased to welcome Cooper & Co to our network," commented Getachew Mengistie, Director General of the EIPO which is spearheading the initiative in Ethiopia. "We are confident that we can contribute to an exquisite coffee drinking experience of both the inhabitants of and visitors to Jersey in the future through our new partnership. We also appreciate Cooper & Co's singular commitment to promote ecological and socially sustainable coffees, and their promotions of Harrar among their portfolio," he added.

David Warr, managing director of Cooper & Co., is enthusiastic about the new partnership. "Ethiopian coffee really excites me - As I've come to learn more and more about coffee so I’ve become fascinated by the different processing methods. We buy coffee from the Harrar region which we sell as both a single origin coffee, and use extensively in our espresso blends. The coffee has a wonderfully wild blueberry distinctive flavour, not found in other coffees. We also support this coffee because we believe that it makes environmental sense. Using the sun to dry the berries, and then hulling off the outer casing means that water consumption is reduced significantly in a country that has real water supply issues."

The network of licensed distributors is growing rapidly, with a goal of reaching 150-200 companies who distribute Ethiopia's coffees. This network provides the opportunity for companies to work with Ethiopian farmers to further the goals of the initiative as well as contribute new ideas and expertise into the promotion and production of Ethiopian coffees.

Contact Details:

Cooper & Co.: David Warr +44 (0)1534 733352
EIPO: Getachew Mengistie, Director General, EIPO +251-11-5534969
Ethiopian Embassy London: Gail Warden +44 (20) 7589-7212

For more information on Ethiopia's Trademarking and Licensing Initiative see the dedicated website: www.ethiopiancoffeenetwork.com.

For more information please contact: