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European Roasterie Improves Business through Peer Council AdviceOur Client
Founded in 1991 by Timothy Tulloch, European Roasterie, Inc. of LeCenter, Minn., specializes in providing high-quality, hand-roasted coffee beans. They supply independent coffeehouses and house-label coffee retailers around the country. European Roasterie works directly with coffee plantations worldwide to purchase 5 million pounds of responsibly grown, 100 percent Arabica beans each year. The company then hand roasts the beans for sale. With revenue of $12 million a year, European Roasterie employs 60 people in its 55,000 square foot plant in this community of 2,300. Our client's problemTulloch began his career in coffee in Kenya in 1981. He then ran coffeehouses in Minneapolis before entering the wholesale coffee business. As a company owner and chief executive officer, Tulloch faced a broad spectrum of manufacturing, marketing and operational issues. His staff was relatively small and time was at a premium. Enterprise Minnesota's Solution? CEO Peer Councils
Four years ago, Tulloch joined an Enterprise Minnesota Peer Council. The Peer Council includes CEOs from a half-dozen companies from the region. None of the companies are in the same industry. However, the CEOs share several characteristics: they are all owners, they all sell proprietary products, and they are all seeking to grow their businesses. The monthly meetings give the CEOs opportunities to share ideas and discuss common business concerns. They also discuss issues unique to each company and assess opportunities. The Peer Council provides peer-to-peer discussion, says Dick Pedersen, the Enterprise Minnesota business adviser who formed and facilitates the group. Issues covered have included capital investments, human resources, marketing and organizational structure. In addition to participating in the Peer Council, Tulloch meets with Pedersen as needed to discuss long-range planning. European Roasterie's ResultsTulloch has received assistance from the Peer Council and Pedersen on several issues, including:
Assistance from Enterprise Minnesota has also helped the company improve employee skills, strategic planning, and management of environmental systems. The company also added 12 jobs recently, which might not have occurred without the assistance of Enterprise Minnesota. |
In general, the business is better run. MTI is an invaluable source of information and assistance and is essential to the health of Minnesota businesses.
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