EAST LANSING, Michigan, USA – Biggby Coffee, a nearly 300-unit chain based in Michigan, has formed the One BIGG Island in Space initiative to source coffee directly from sustainable farmers around the world.
The company plans to serve 50% farm-direct coffee by 2023 and 100% farm-direct coffee in the following years in line with its mission to help franchisees, employees, customers and communities build a life they love, according to a company press release.
Biggby Coffee co-founder and CEO Bob Fish, and his wife, Michelle, created One BIGG Island in Space so they could travel the world in search of coffee that brings people together and serves the planet.
The goal is to partner with coffee farmers around the world who run a humane, sustainable, and high-quality operation and purchase directly from them.
Biggby Coffee announces promotion of John W. Gilkey to President
Biggby Coffee has recently announced its promotion of John W. Gilkey to president with that mission in mind. As the former vice president of technology for the brand, Gilkey has in-depth experience strengthening the brand’s business management and plans to use that experience in his new role to help the brand reach its goals.
Gilkey has been working with Biggby Coffee for the past 18 years, first as an external consultant to help improve the development of the brand’s technology.
When he was asked to officially join the team in 2018 as vice president of technology, he brought with him a plethora of knowledge on EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating Systems, and a passion for quality systems.
Now, as the president of the Biggby Coffee, Gilkey will further solidify the implementation of EOS, structure that system around the brand’s vision and propel Biggby into the future.
