ofi, a global leader in beverage ingredients, has officially inaugurated its 53,000 sq.metre state-of-the-art soluble coffee facility in Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil on 9 May. The strategic investment strengthens ofi’s position as a top 3 independent producer in the growing global soluble coffee market, projected to reach US$52.2 billion by 2031[1].
Located in the heart of Brazil’s Conilon coffee region, the Linhares facility transforms coffee beans sourced from ofi’s coffee units across Brazil into premium soluble products. Serving a global network of customers, the Linhares site has 2 complete lines of freeze-dried and spray-dried instant coffee, thereby maximizing output and material efficiency.
“This inauguration represents a triple win – for local communities, for our customers, and for the environment,” said Vivek Verma, ofi’s Managing Director & CEO. “By processing coffee at the source, we’re strengthening our integrated supply chain and farmer partnerships to deliver traceable, sustainable soluble coffee products to our customers. A strengthened innovation infrastructure focusing on value-added coffee products will build growth opportunities in South and North America, while also serving consumption markets in Europe and Asia.”
The Linhares site was selected due to the abundant Conilon coffee production in the Espírito Santo region which provides approximately 70% of Brazil’s output[2] – a potential growth driver for the global supply of robusta coffee beans. The site complements ofi’s existing soluble coffee processing facilities in Spain and Vietnam.
The new factory also houses ofi’s new soluble coffee innovation centre, and it is also powered 100% by renewable electricity and biomass boilers that convert coffee production waste into energy, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of ofi and its customers. The beans supplied to the facility are fully traceable and the soluble coffee produced from the facility is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.
[1] Soluble Coffee Market Size, Industry Share, Forecast 2031
[2] B3 launches conilon/robusta coffee futures contract – Cultivar Magazine
