I started roasting coffee in a Sunbeam popcorn machine on Constable St in 2003. Back then, my kitchen was always full of smoke and coffee parchment husks. I never imagined that those tiny beginnings would grow into the rather larger operation we have today!
Over the past eight years, Peoples Coffee has continued to grow and thrive, and is now at a point that needs stronger management and a clear structure for the further growth and development that lies ahead.
For this reason, after eight years at the helm of Peoples Coffee, I have decided to step away from the day to day management of the company. I’ve absolutely loved starting and developing Peoples to the point we’re at now, but I’m an ideas person, and management has never been my goal or forte.
I’ll be handing the reins over to the brilliant and capable Liv Doogue. You might already know Liv, who has been a valuable contributor to Peoples Coffee for more than three years now. Liv has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of our business operations, is a passionate believer in the Peoples brand and values, is a responsive and successful client care manager, and (all importantly) knows how to get the job done.
I’m very excited to be appointing Liv as the General Manager of Peoples Coffee. She holds to the values of justice in our trading with coffee farmers, quality in the products and service we offer, and is excited to lead a company that will pioneer new positions as the leading fair trade coffee roaster in New Zealand.
Of course I am still committed to Peoples Coffee and will stay keenly involved in a director’s role, as chair of the company’s board and owner of the business.
In terms of my next steps, I’m looking forward to doing my part with child number two, who’s due any day now! Beyond that, I have a few ideas that that I might try my hand at. There might be another business venture even…
I’m so glad that Peoples is going to continue on as awesomely as it has till now. I even suggest it will do better! While news of change in business leadership can be unsettling, I want to say that I, and all the staff at Peoples Coffee, think this is a great and progressive shift.
We’ve worked hard to arrive at this point, and I’m looking forward to the great work that our motivated team, led by Liv, can achieve for everyone invested in our business: our clients, our customers, and of course our coffee farmers and the cooperatives we stand with.
Yours faithfully,
Matt Lamason
Founder/Director
Peoples Coffee Ltd
