Mercanta to set up Seattle base

15th May 2008

British-based speciality importer Mercanta is to establish a base in the US to serve customers there, the company announced in mid-May.

SCAE Member Mercanta, which has headquarters at Kingston-upon-Thames, near London , is to set up an office in the environs of Seattle, according to managing director Stephen Hurst.

The importer’s US presence will be headed by Leah Warren, formerly of San Francisco Coffee in Malaysia.

The company has been importing green coffee for West Coast US customers since 2005, and already has contracted warehouse space in Portland, Hurst said.

Mercanta’s American office will open in June, he added.

The company is also expanding at its British headquarters, by taking more space to add a second cupping laboratory to give extra facilities to its London School of Coffee training centre.