EssentialInterview
STOCKBROKING IT AIN'T
James believes there is a place for both espresso and filter coffees in today's coffee shops
Sue Dunk caught up with James Sweeting, director of highly respected coffee roasting and packing company Lincoln & York, at the recent Caffè Culture exhibition
Prior to setting up Lincoln & York with Simon Herring in 1992 James Sweeting was a coffee buyer for Lyons Tetley. Between them the pair have 40 years' experience in the industry, experience which James has put to good use in the development of his own company. "I always wanted my own business as, in fact, Sweetings do not make good employees," he says. (Are there, perhaps, some skeletons in the Sweeting closet, I ask myself? Perhaps we'll leave that for another time...) "Thereafter it was just a matter of what trade or industry I would choose.” So why coffee? "I wanted to be a stockbroker, but there
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weren't any jobs at that time. However, in many respects buying green coffee and selling it to clients has some similarities..." And if he hadn't found a niche within the coffee industry? "I think I would have ended up farming (like my Dad), although I am interested in engineering." In this day and age where increasingly everyone claims to be an expert in everything James' answer to my next question - are you a trained barista? - was refreshingly honest: "No, well sort of - I did a course in 1999. I prefer to leave it to the experts!" So, a man who knows his limits - and his strengths.
James believes the company he and Simon have
created is very special, particularly in regard to the people. "There are many different skill sets within our business, all working together as a team to ensure our customers are well looked after and our coffee is second to none. "We have also invested heavily in our factory to ensure it stands out from the crowd, with four modern Brambati roasters and 11 packaging lines, including our latest addition - an IMA pod machine." As a coffee roaster specialising in private label production, Lincoln & York is one of the coffee industry's best-kept secrets. The company creates coffee products for a wide variety of clients and
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