Growing Apsley coffee roaster looks at relocation

Smith’s Coffee has operated from its home in Ebberns Road since 1996 but a surge in new house building has left bosses looking at a change of location.

Colin Smith, co-owner of the firm, which employs 23 people, said; “We are looking at alternative sites all the time.

“But moving would be expensive in comparison to the price we think we could get for our current site and the right location has just not come up yet.”

An ongoing headache is its large delivery vehicles, which can often block the road causing an inconvenience for nearby householders.

Mr Smith said: “At the moment, our premises are jammed in by housing on both sides of the road. We often have to get our delivery lorries to go to Tilbury to put their loads on to smaller vehicles.”

However, the difficulties have not stopped the 80-year-old company becoming an international hub for the coffee industry.

The company processes up to 70 coffee varieties from 30 sources. It roasts about 10 tonnes of coffee a week and the coffee is then distributed to a range of customers varying from confectionery giant Hotel Chocolat to nearby cafes and consumers.

It also sells a large number of coffee capsules and next year hopes to provide capsules that can be composted at home.

Mr Smith said: “Despite the lockdown, we have done well. We have improved our website and our internet sales are booming.”

The firm offers coffee-related activities like barista training, a lecture room, a museum and a cafe, which is the only part of the business that has been closed by Covid-19 with the factory is still doing takeaway coffees.