KARLSTAD, Sweden – On July 1st, 115 years ago, Löfbergs was founded. The family-owned coffee roaster celebrates the occasion by treating itself to a solid birthday present: a new state-of-the-art whole bean roastery in Karlstad, Sweden. “We have invested SEK 200 million, which is the largest investment in the history of the company. It is certainly a milestone, and it is very special for us have the inauguration 115 years to the day after my great-grandfather founded Löfbergs,” says Kathrine Löfberg, chair of the board of Löfbergs.
Löfbergs was founded on 1 July 1906 and was a small, local business at first. In the 1950s and 1960s, Löfbergs expanded all over Sweden, and in 1993, the company started exporting coffee. Every other cup today is sold abroad under the brands Löfbergs, Percol and Peter Larsen Kaffe
Increased demand
The investment in the new roastery is made to meet the increased demand on whole beans at the same time as the possibilities to expand the production in the existing roasting-house in central Karlstad were limited. Now, Löfbergs has two state-of-the-art roasteries in Karlstad: one that is specialized in whole beans and one in ground coffee.
“It gives us unique possibilities to meet our customers’ needs. It is an investment in the future that strengthens us in Sweden as well as internationally and that reflects our ambition to continue to grow and to be a reliable and leading supplier, employer and partner for a long time to come”, says Fredrik Nilsson, acting CEO of Löfbergs.
Löfbergs ‘s roastery has the best and most modern technology
The new roastery has taken two years to build and is directly linked to Löfbergs’s central warehouse in Välsviken, Karlstad, which was completed in 2016. The roastery has a capacity of 10,000 tons per year and is prepared for double the production in the future.
“Building a new roastery from the ground made it possible for us to choose the best and most modern technology and solutions available. In order to be in full control and benefit from our co-workers’ unique knowledge and experiences, we have been responsible for all planning and project management ourselves. The result is the most modern coffee roastery in Europe,” says Fredrik Nilsson.
Flavour, quality and sustainability
In the new roastery, Löfbergs uses coffee beans from carefully selected and sustainably certified farms. The roasting is done according to the slow-roast method, a process with lower temperature for a longer time, which results in unique flavours and high quality. The roasted beans are packed in climate-smart packaging and all energy in the roastery comes from green sources. The roastery has an Environmental Building Silver certification, which means that it meets the extra high demands on choice of materials, energy efficiency, working environment etc.
“All this means that we can meet our customers’ high demands regarding flavour, quality and sustainability”, says Fredrik Nilsson.
Löfbergs: A somewhat different inauguration
The inauguration of the new roastery will be digital due to the current circumstances and can be seen here. No ribbon will be cut as the Löfberg family has chosen a somewhat different inauguration ceremony.
“We are planting a tree in connection to the new roasting-house, an oak that can grow together with the family and the company. A warm greeting to former and future generations from us in the third, fourth and fifth generation,” says Katherine Löfberg.
