Houston-based FreshBrew, one of the largest private-label coffee and tea producers in the U.S., announced the investment of $10 million into its specialty roasting and production divisions. The investment will expand current roasting production and will fund extraction, bottling and canning capabilities, making FreshBrew one of only a few companies in the country to offer total end-to-end beverage solutions, according to the announcement.
Expansion is slated to be complete in early 2023.
"FreshBrew remains committed to providing our customers with the highest quality product and technology-driven services while continuously expanding our product lines and meeting increasing demand from our national clients," Al Ansari, president and CEO of FreshBrew, said in the announcement.
Earlier this year, FreshBrew sold the vending division of the company to Compass Group North America, the owner of Canteen Vending Services, in response to rapidly increasing customer demand for production services.
FreshBrew upgraded its existing roasters and purchased two additional roasters, which will arrive later this summer. It added 11 packing lines for a total of 25 to accommodate increased demand. Its tea lines expanded as well, with the addition of sugar to its production, to allow for sweet tea products.
Construction is now underway to transform the 40,000 sq. ft. of vending space to allow for extraction, bottling and canning production in-house. The company also acquired an additional 25,000 sq. ft. of space, creating a combined total of 140,000 sq. ft. for the roasting plant and warehouse.
"As we look towards the future, we are energized and excited to continue to provide innovative total beverage solutions to many of the country's largest convenience stores, quick service restaurants and foodservice industries," Ansari said in the announcement.
FreshBrew supplies award-winning coffee, tea and total beverage solutions to notable brands in the national foodservice, convenience store, hospitality and retail sectors. Production is expected to increase to 100 million pounds annually once the extracting, bottling and canning services and additional roasting capabilities are fully implemented.
