D.R. Wakefield
D.R . Wakefield & Company Limited was founded in January 1970 by Derrick Wakefield. His objective was to supply both specialist and regular grade coffees to the UK trade, small private roasters and large multinational companies alike, building strong relationships to understand their needs. Having met those early objectives the company has spread its wings finding clients in Australia, Europe and USA.
Having a good client base is worthless if you do not have an equally strong supply source. This has been achieved with regular trips to origin to understand how the supply chain functions down to the farm gate and to find suppliers with a similar ideology as DRW’s.
Success only comes with vigilant control. To that extent DRW controls the shipping and delivery from place of origin to the roaster door. The company consistently sources from the same suppliers with shipments being checked for quality prior to delivery.
Leading the way is a priority but believing in your goal is essential. DRW has been the first in their sector to import Organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees, helping to compliment their conventional business. DRW supports the coffee industry and was a founder member of both the Coffee Trade Federation (CTF) and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE).
Flexibility is becoming ever more essential in a more demanding world. DRW works to many different requirements, ranging from pre-finance for the farmer to arranging independent farm audits for the roaster. Acting as a catalyst between farmer and roaster creates an opportunity for both to meet the other’s needs as the market develops.
Coffee can be treated as purely a traded commodity, but not at DRW. Looking at a sack of coffee DRW sees the people that harvested it, the impact it has on their lives and their surroundings before it is turned into the dark liquid we drink for pleasure.
Wakefields is an independent coffee importer, a catalyst and an enthusiast!
Further information: www.drwakefield.com
