02.14.2012

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company expands region-wide in Whole Foods Mid-Atlantic

CROFTON, Maryland (February 14, 2012) – Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (CBRC), the Mid-Atlantic's premiere coffee roaster focused on sustainability, announces that its coffees are now available throughout the entire Whole Foods' Mid-Atlantic region.  “Partnering with Whole Foods Markets to expand their locally sourced, Fair Trade Organic coffee selection is a double-win for local business and sustainability,” said Neil Cooper, EVP at CBRC. 

In addition to roasting Fair Trade Organic coffee as a sign of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company also uses a natural gas powered roaster that is 78% more fuel efficient than traditional roasters as well as purchases 100% wind power energy offsets.  CBRC founded the H2O Initiative which gives 2% of sales to cleaning up waterways in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond by catalyzing community involvement.

With this expansion, CBRC coffees will now be available in Whole Foods' 40 Mid-Atlantic stores across 8 states, up from 14 previously only in the Maryland/DC area.  “Our sales velocity and margin contribution clearly justified the roll-out and demonstrate our ability to be a value-add supplier,” said Cooper.  In addition to Whole Foods Markets, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company coffees can be found in retailers including Safeway, Giant Foods, Wegmans and Fresh Market.

About Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (CBRC) serves more than 300 food service clients and can be found in more than 125 grocery and specialty food markets.  Some of our many partners include campus dining (Bon Appétit Management Company, Sage Dining Services), healthcare (Anne Arundel Medical Center), coffee cafés (Daily Grind), restaurants (Harry Browne’s, The Dogwood), and grocery accounts (Whole Foods, Safeway, Giant, Graul’s) as well as dozens of independent retailers.

CBRC’s fair trade, organic coffees are roasted in the Sirocco roaster, a specially designed hybrid that uses 78% less energy and reduces emissions by 80% over traditional roasters in use today.  Named the “single most green roaster in the world” by Roast Magazine, only a few are in use throughout the country and CBRC’s is the only one of its kind in the region.

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company supports community efforts to clean up our waterways through our “H2O Initiative” through which we dedicate 2% of our coffee sales to organizations across the Bay watershed that protect and preserve our most precious resource, clean water.

CBRC retail products are packaged in a steel can – the number one sustainable packaging material.  The can is 100% recyclable and reusable as opposed to non-recyclable, non-compostable bags, and ensures our coffee reaches our customers in perfect freshness.