February #CoffeeBreak

Empowering Ugandas youth: the driving force against poverty

In Uganda, where a staggering 85% of coffee is cultivated by small-scale farmers, the adverse effects of climate change have been pushing many to abandon rural life and agricultural activities. Seeking brighter prospects, it's often youth who migrate toward urban centers. Recognizing this challenge, the Lavazza Foundation has launched "Ujana," a project aptly named after the Swahili word for "youth”.

The project was inspired by the founder of Sawa World Daphne Nederhorst, who champions Goal 1 "No Poverty" in the 2018 Lavazza Calendar “2030: What are you doing?”. It aims to engage youth within coffee-producing communities by providing widespread access to simple, local innovations and the necessary education to implement them. In the project's initial phase, seven young people were selected to kickstart a small entrepreneurial venture proposing different business ideas, which were then condensed in learning materials to make them scalable for thousands of other youths. Three years in, more than 700 youths have been trained and more than 5.000 boys and girls have at their disposal the training materials.

Discover more about the Ujana Coffee Project

New partnership, new opportunities: announcing the new KDP distribution partnership

Our Group keeps exploring new horizons. February kicked off with an important announcement. We have extended our collaboration with Keurig Dr Pepper to Canada, through a new agreement that expands the distribution of Lavazza® K-Cup® capsules to cover the entire North American continent. Additionally, our Kicking Horse Coffee brand makes its entrance in Keurig system capsules, thus solidifying its position in the super-premium segment.

«This partnership marks a significant milestone for Lavazza and Kicking Horse Coffee . We believe that Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. is the right partner to bring superior, high-quality coffee experiences to more consumers across North America», said Hossam Ashraf , Lavazza North America President of our Group.

Read more about the partnership

From fiction to reality: A Cup of Learning in Italy and beyond

In the heart of Naples, the Lavazza Foundation has ushered in a new and meaningful chapter for "A Cup of Learning", an initiative that embodies its commitment to fostering professional training in the coffee world. With the support of Cesvi’s la Casa del Sorriso, the project has carved a beacon of hope in the lives of young people from challenging backgrounds, offering them not only technical skills but renewed professional horizons.

The Sanremo Festival was the perfect background for our global brand Lavazza to showcase our social commitment and its presence in the popular TV series “Mare Fuori”, through the voice of Massimiliano Caiazzo, one of the protagonists of the series. The initiative has spread beyond tangible borders, playing a role in the narrative of its fourth season, during which some of its characters commit to social projects inspired by those that the Lavazza Foundation carries on both in Italian cities and abroad.

Read more: "E se bastasse un caffè per ricominciare?"

The significance of the Keurig Dr Pepper partnership

«We are confident that this enhanced partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. will drive our internationalization efforts forward, bringing the unique taste of Lavazza and Kicking Horse Coffee to a broader audience. This represents an important development for the Lavazza Group, as it aligns with our strategic objectives of market expansion and leadership in the North American coffee market, accelerating our growth and further establishing our brands among coffee lovers», stated CCO of our Group Mauro Mantovani about the partnership with KDP.

The announcement here