Coffee Holding Co., Inc.

Overview

Coffee Holding Co., Inc. is an integrated wholesale coffee roaster and dealer based in the United States. Its core operations span three product categories: Wholesale Green Coffee, Private Label Coffee, and Branded Coffee. The company also sells tea and tabletop coffee roasting equipment through the Sonofresco product line. Recent activity includes acquisitions, creation of new subsidiaries, and ongoing licensing and brand development.

Core product categories

Wholesale Green Coffee

• Sells unroasted green coffee beans to large, medium and small roasters and coffee shop operators.
• Offers over 90 specialty green coffee varieties sourced through dealers from origins such as Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia, Brazil and Uganda.
• Purchases are typically made on purchase orders rather than long-term contracts.
• Growth emphasis on specialty coffee markets and value-added services, including training, blending, and market identification.

Private Label Coffee

• Roasts, blends, and packages coffee under customers’ own brands for supermarkets, wholesalers, and other retailers across the United States and Canada.
• Products are offered in cans, brick packages, and instant formats.

Branded Coffee

• Roasts and blends coffee under the company’s own brands, packaged at facilities in La Junta, Colorado, and sold to supermarkets, wholesalers, and independent stores in the U.S.
• Holds eight proprietary and licensed brand names, including an exclusive license to use the S&W brand in the United States.
• Brand portfolio includes Cafe Caribe, Don Manuel, S&W (Premium lines, Swiss Water Decaf, etc.), Cafe Supremo, Via Roma, Premier Roasters, Harmony Bay, and Café Femenino.

Other products

• Tea, tabletop coffee roasters and grinders.

Production and distribution

• Primary roasting, blending and packaging occur in Colorado and New York.
• Uses a network of independent bonded warehouses for green coffee storage.
• Production and distribution rely on a mix of owned facilities and leased spaces.

Intellectual property and licensing

• Owns eight proprietary brand names and holds exclusive rights to the S&W brand for roasted coffee in the U.S. and other approved territories.
• The branded lineup includes flavored and specialty offerings such as Harmony Bay and Café Caribe.
• Maintains licensed brand relationships to expand into niche markets.

Geography and customers

• Private label and branded coffees are sold throughout the United States and in certain Asian markets.
• Green coffee customers are located in the United States, Canada, and other international countries.
• One customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales in both 2025 and 2024.
• The company generally does not enter long-term contracts with most customers and uses hedging to manage green coffee price risk.

Corporate history and recent developments

• June 2016: Acquired substantially all assets of Sonofresco (tabletop roasting equipment business).
• February 23, 2017: Acquired Comfort Foods, Inc., which included the Harmony Bay brand; facility closure completed October 2025 with production shifted to Second Empire facility in Port Chester, NY.
• November 11, 2024: Purchased Empire Coffee Company assets for $800,000 (UCC Chapter 9 sale) and created Second Empire, LLC to operate roasting/packing for Coffee Holding’s customers and Empire Coffee.
• Leased property at 21 Grace Church Street, Port Chester, NY for Second Empire operations; four-year lease with annual rent around $840,000 (expires 2028).
• September 29, 2022: Entered a Merger and Share Exchange Agreement with Pubco (agreement terminated June 21, 2024).
• December 2025: Invested $850,000 in The Ryl Company LLC for a non-controlling minority stake (passive investment).
• Corporate office: 3475 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314; website: www.coffeeholding.com.

Facilities and real estate

• Headquarters and office/warehouse in Staten Island, NY (leased; annual rent $118k–$133k; lease through 2029).
• North Andover, MA production facility (Comfort Foods division) had annual rent around $250k; operations ceased and the company exited the facility in October 2025.
• Burlington, Washington production/warehouse space (annual rent ~ $55k; lease through 2026).
• La Junta, Colorado: 50,000 sq ft owner-occupied facility for office and warehouse.
• Port Chester, NY: Empire-related facility at 21 Grace Church Street (leased) serving as primary production and office space.
• Uses additional independent bonded warehouses for green coffee storage.

Employees

• 92 full-time employees.
• No union representation among employees.

Market position and growth strategy

• Maintains a diversified product portfolio across branded, private label, and wholesale green coffee to reduce dependence on any single segment.
• Competitive strengths include long-standing industry experience, a broad brand portfolio, and the ability to serve small to mid-sized roasters with value-added services.
• Growth strategy focuses on selective acquisitions, licensing opportunities, and expanding with existing customers, with emphasis on Latin American markets through Café Caribe and Café Supremo.
• Management aims to avoid competing on price alone by expanding distribution channels and introducing new brands and products at multiple price points.

Financial highlights

• One customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales in both 2025 and 2024.
• Uses hedging on coffee futures to manage cost of sales; gains and losses from hedges flow through cost of sales.
• No formal long-term supplier contracts for green coffee; exposure to commodity price volatility remains a key business risk.

Key risks and controls

• Heavy exposure to the price and supply of coffee beans; pricing flexibility to pass costs to customers is not always assured.
• Reliance on key personnel and concentrated customer exposure could affect revenue and profitability if relationships or personnel change.
• Anti-takeover provisions exist in corporate governance documents; the Gordon family holds significant ownership and voting power.
• Compliance with environmental, health, safety, and regulatory standards is required; regulatory changes or quality issues in supply chains could have operational impact.