Finlays: Your Partner in Coffee Innovation

For more than a century, Finlays has been sourcing coffee from around the world as it works to bring the highest quality products to its retail customers. That longevity provides retailers peace of mind, knowing Finlays' quality products will keep sales in the category growing. Finlay’s officials discussed the company’s strengths as well as the current state of the coffee business.

Store Brands: What services does Finlay’s offer its customers that differ from other companies in the coffee segment?

Finlays: Finlays excels in custom product development and creation of coffee flavor profiles. We also offer a unique process that removes the need for retort, aseptic packaging, or other high heat, high pressure sterility processes, allowing our coffee products to ship ambient while preserving their delicate flavor. Another offering is our ability to remove multiple downstream processing steps that are typically seen in the beverage landscape. This process allows for every sip of a Finlays coffee products to taste like a freshly brewed cup. 

SB: What steps does Finlays take to stay ahead of consumer trends to provide its customers the latest products?

Finlays: Our team of global insights specialists take a holistic approach to the market and use quantitative and qualitative data to gather insights and make predictions on trends in the market. The ability to have a full scope view on the global market and analyze how other regions influence trends helps us support our customers to bring new and innovative products to market. Also, every year our team creates an annual global beverage trend report that we circulate to our customers and the industry.

SB: How does Finlays address the growing sustainability movement seen across retail?

Finlays: One of Finlays core values is a commitment to sustainability. It’s something we take very seriously and keep a continuous eye on in the market. Finlays has relationships with certified sustainable farms that offer coffee, such as Rain Forest Alliance and Fair Trade and can provide certified sustainable coffee solutions. Additionally, Finlays is working with packaging partners continuing to innovate on packaging solutions that reduce our carbon footprint. Finlays also participates in a key sustainability movement by upcycling 100% of our spent coffee grinds.  

SB: What are some of the hot current day trends in coffee?

Finlays: We are seeing an increase in spend in private label ready-to-drink coffees and across the board in multi-serve cold brew coffees. Over the past 30 years, consumers have developed a discerning taste for high-quality coffee, increasing demand for specialty coffee beans, new brewing methods and elevated flavor profiles. While cold brew is maturing, we’re seeing the category continue to develop, particularly in line with trends for health and wellbeing. Interest in added functionality has increased as consumers look for ‘drinks with benefits’ to support their physical and mental wellbeing. Products with specific caffeine levels are appealing to consumers looking for an energy boost, while also wanting to regulate their caffeine intake.