Progreso
Having been pointed towards the new coffee bar chain Progreso as an example of enlightened coffee retailing by Oxfam’s Ken Smith, I decided to pay them a call and find out about them firsthand.
The Earlham Street branch is actually in the basement of the Thomas Neale’s shopping centre, which is situated at the corner of Earlham Street and Shelton Street. The coffee’s good (with prettiest leaf pattern in the chocolate dusting), the seating spacious and there are stacks of books under the seats courtesy of Oxfam—they ask for a two pound donation if you want to take one home with you. There’s a community noticeboard with staff photos and various Oxfam and community trade initiative info, and wi-fi access courtesy of ReadytoSurf (though no power points and, us usual, exorbitantly expensive at a pound for twenty minutes).
I chatted briefly with the branch manager, Guido Gessaroli, about the ethos behind Progreso. Of course their products are Fairtrade, but Guido explained that the really original aspect of Progreso is the way its ownership is shared between Oxfam, the coffee importer and the coffee growers themselves. What a great idea!
This integration of ownership across the supply chain got me thinking about how blogs could similarly provide a medium for the integration of the voices of Progreso’s various stakeholders. A blog network could allow all the people involved in Progreso to tell their stories in their own words and images—so we customers could get an insight into the human experiences behind the brand. And we could add our own voices through comments and back-linked blog entries. Perhaps I’ll contact Progreso and moot the idea.
After all, what is coffee for if not for inspiring conversations?
At my office we’ve very much had a case of a branch of Regresso openning, otherwise known as Starbucks. Yes, they’re now in the bloody building!.
Am I the only one here who doesn’t have a problem with Starbucks? People sure like to bitch about it. Then again… if it were universally despised, they probably wouldn’t be doing so well.
Maybe I’m un-PC, but honestly I like it better than any of the other chains out there. Philistine that I am, I’m not going to go somewhere for what I feel is an inferior cup of coffee just to be enlightened. :>
… That’s pretty capitalist of me, isn’t it? :P
I don’t mind SB myself, I just prefer more European style cafes. After living four years in Lisbon Madrid the American model just grates. Progreso to me is a bit like soya Bacon, its a way of getting the taste, but without any attached guilt. If there is a market for it fine. As for SB? Its problem is probably is that there are way too many of them. Christ, there is even one in my bloody office and I’m in Staines!
tea???????
mmm… coffee… (arrgggle…)
/Homer
…gawd, no wonder I can’t sleep…
;-)