Blog post -
Löfbergs Sustainability Report: “As a family business, we are not taking any short cuts”
When Anders Löfberg and his brothers Josef and John started their coffee roastery in Karlstad in 1906, they laid the foundation for something bigger than perhaps they could imagine. But one thing was clear from the beginning – the business should be built on sustainable values. This is a principle that still lives on, and a principle that Kathrine Löfberg, Chair of the Board and coffee roaster in the fourth generation, is passionate about passing on.
“We have always had a long-term perspective, and as a family business, we are not taking any short cuts. We know that every decision we make affects us, coming generations, and the communities we operate in," says Kathrine Löfberg.
Sustainability has been a guiding-star since the beginning and permeates everything from farming and production to transports and packaging.
“We were early with investing in aluminium-free packaging and certified coffee, and we are constantly working to develop even more sustainable solutions. Our ambition is to lead the industry forward and contribute to a positive change.”
The Löfberg family have a deep-rooted commitment to the producing countries. Löfbergs is one of the founders of International Coffee Partners, where seven family-owned coffee companies with similar values collaborate to support small-scale coffee farmers. The family has also established a foundation, which contributes to sustainable development in the producing countries.
“I have seen for myself how our commitment makes a difference. During my trips to the producing countries, I have met farmers whose living standard has improved through greater knowledge, collaborations, and technology due to our initiatives.”
Löfbergs has grown from a small local coffee roaster in 1906 to an international company. Today, Löfbergs is one of the biggest family-owned coffee roasters in the Nordic region, with exports to about 20 markets.
“I am very proud that we have been able to grow without compromising with our values. Being a family business makes us unique and gives us the liberty of long-term thinking, which is a strength for us as well as the world around us.”
Coffee is more than just a beverage for Kathrine and her family – it is something that unites people all over the world.
“Coffee is community. Coffee creates meetings, conversations, and relationships, no matter if it is in the producing countries, at home at the breakfast table, or in a café. Which is why we continue to strive for a sustainable coffee industry – for future generations to be able to enjoy a good cup of coffee.”
