Coffee roastery reveals plans to double size of business

Coffee roastery Lincoln & York is celebrating its 30th anniversary with ambition to grow the business two-fold.

Founded in 1994 by James Sweeting and Simon Herring, Lincoln & York started in a garden shed where they hand-roasted coffee beans.

Today, it stands as one of the UK’s largest independent coffee roasters, processing 9,000 tonnes of coffee annually.

From its 6,000 sq ft facility in Brigg, the company supplies high-street chains, independent coffee shops and retailers across the country.

Over the past three decades, Lincoln & York has grown its team to 90 employees, many of whom have been with the company since its early days.

James Sweeting, the founder of the business, said: “When the business was first established, many of the coffee shops that line our high streets today simply didn’t exist. As coffee culture exploded throughout the 90s, we had to scale, grow and adapt with our customers’ businesses and the growing demand from consumers for great quality coffee.

“We now supply over 150 customers across the hospitality and retail space with 9,000 tons of coffee every year, the equivalent of around 80 million cups. So, although you may have never heard of Lincoln & York, we’re really proud that over the last 30 years the majority of UK coffee drinkers will have enjoyed our coffee.”

Lincoln & York managing director, Ian Bryson, said: “There’s no doubting how far we’ve come in a relatively short space of time and our growth has been testament to the hard work and passion of the team, who join us in our celebrations.

“Having grown consistently for the past 30 years, we now have ambitions to double the business by 2026. This growth will of course be supported by continued investment in the roastery, including a £1m investment this year.

“As we embark on the next phase of our growth journey, our emphasis on people and family values remains a key priority. We are all working together towards a shared goal and our plan is to continue building our reputation for coffee knowledge, service, flexibility and reliability for the next 30 years and beyond.”