Coffee filters to Asia via NZ

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Auckland company Karajoz is mopping up growing Asian demand for Kiwi coffee blends.

During the past three years the tiny manufacturer has developed a $375,000 coffee bean export business to Hong Kong and Singapore, targeting supermarket chains and coffee bars.

Karajoz's managing director, Derek Townsend, who has owned several specialist coffee bars around Auckland in the past two decades, including DKD, said the Asian market for premium coffee was in its infancy and the growth potential was absolutely huge.

"The New Zealand premium coffee market's gone through a lot of growth during the past decade and we don't see a lot of movement there in the future.

"The Asia market has huge potential, Japan is the fourth largest coffee-consuming nation in the world, but the cafe coffee scene is relatively small."

Karajoz, which has annual turnover of $1.5 million, is producing coffee under in-house brands for Asian supermarket chains.

It is also in discussions to supply its Karajoz brand to coffee bars.

Selling about 1500kg of coffee a week, Karajoz imports beans from throughout the world, mixing and roasting more than eight green coffee varieties to produce its Karajoz blend at its plant in Eden Terrace.