Total, Good African coffee sign business partnership

CEO Good African Coffee Andrew Rugasira, managing director Total Uganda Florentin de Loppinot and the chairman Total Uganda Jean-Christian Bergeron toast to seal Total’s new partnership with Good African Coffee last Friday. COURTESY PHOTO

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Benefit. Mr Florentin de Loppinot says the partnership will boost incomes of farmers supplying the coffee maker and increase domestic consumption of the coffee

Instant coffee maker and exporter, Good African Coffee, has entered into partnership with Total Uganda, an integrated oil and gas company. The business partnership will see Good African Coffee sell instant, roast and ground coffee at Total Uganda’s 125 service stations countrywide.

Speaking at the launch of the revamped Total Mukono service station where the partnership was signed, Mr Florentin de Loppinot, the managing director Total Uganda said: “We have brought partners like Good African Coffee on board to give our consumers a better experience of our service stations.”

De Loppinot also noted that the new eco-friendly station constructed to a tune of $1.4 million (about Shs4.8 billion) has a contemporary design that allows the company to offer more than fuels and lubricants to its customers. Mr Andrew Rugasira, who recently launched a bid for the presidency of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “…the partnership will generate income for our coffee farmers, create jobs for youth and boost our business in Uganda.”

Good African Coffee was the first African packaging and roasting factory to export roast and ground coffee directly to the United Kingdom through supermarket chains, Waitrose and Sainsburys. At least 14,000 farmers supply raw coffee to the company for processing, export and local consumption.

Several coffee farmers across the country are failing to realise any profit from coffee due to low domestic consumption. The partnership will boost incomes of farmers supplying the coffee maker and increase domestic consumption of the coffee.
The new partnership will see the company sell its coffee products including instant coffee and chocolate, through Total’s bonjur shops.

Mr De Loppinot revealed that Total will add 10 new stations to its network annually and provide up to 300 jobs to Ugandan youth.
“This station shows our commitment to enhance our service network and bring convenience to our customers,” he said.