Is specialty coffee scaleable? How do we think and act in order for our businesses to succeed long term? What role does delivery of flavor, knowledge, and consistency play in giving your company the depth and soul needed to truly execute on a high level of quality over the long haul?
Great questions that we get answers to and more as we welcome Cosimo Libardo, Managing Director of Toby’s Estate Coffee to the show!
Over 22 years of experience in internationalization and management, with a deep passion for strategy, innovation, sustainability and, ultimately, for the business of serving great coffee.
Firm believer in the scalability of Specialty, Cosimo has global knowledge of the coffee industry, due to his continuous involvement with the international coffee sector and various volunteer roles in the largest specialty coffee organisations SCAE and SCA.
Starting from junior sales role in 1998, Cosimo has had rapid career growth at Nuova Simonelli SpA where he led the company to more than triple the size of its business between 2004 and 2014, along with the repositioning of its brands: Nuova Simonelli and Victoria Arduino are now the industry reference for quality and technology, used by some of the best specialty coffee companies and by market leaders like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
Two breakthrough technologies were launched as result of Cosimo’s strategic vision: gravimetric dosing for espresso machines – incorporated in the VA388 currently used in barista competitions – and clima-pro technology for grinders – incorporated in the Mythos One and currently used in most specialty coffee shops.
In November 2014 Cosimo moved to Sydney becoming MD of Toby’s Estate Coffee, leading specialty coffee roaster with nationwide presence in Australia in addition to Singapore, Philippines, Kuwait, Indonesia and USA.
Toby’s Estate has since grown in Australia whilst expanding internationally, introducing several innovative coffee concepts such as “The Underdog Series”, “Shift” and flavour-time based extraction cards.
Cosimo is a member of Suntory Coffee’s ANZ Executive Leadership Team since 2014 and, starting from January 2018, is responsible for the international expansion of ANZ based Suntory Coffee’s companies.
During his mandate as SCAE president in 2014-2015, Cosimo has successfully co-created and launched the Barista Guild of Europe, a project that led the European barista community to grow and connect trans-nationally, creating new career opportunities and learning platforms for its members.
In 2016 he contributed to drive the merger between the two largest specialty coffee associations, SCAA and SCAE. This lead to the creation in 2017 of the SCA: the global Specialty Coffee Association.
Cosimo currently sits on SCA’s Nominating Committee and Event Site Selection Criteria Advisory Council.
Go to www.keystotheshop.com and enter your email for the show notes.
Also reach out to me with comments, questions etc. chris@keystotheshop.com
Links for this episode:
@tobysestatecoffee / Instagram
@tobysestateaustralia / Facebook
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