Whether it's Barissimo in Europe, the UK and the United States or the UK-only premium brand Specially Selected, the roastery NewCoffee supplies our own-brand coffee products to all ALDI markets. This long-term partnership not only allows us to offer our customers great quality at a great price, but also to raise sustainability standards throughout our coffee supply chain.
NewCoffee has been roasting high-quality coffee in Germany since the 1960s. The company was originally set up to supply ALDI SÜD Germany and is now the main coffee producer for our entire ALDI business group. But this does not mean that every country gets the same cup of coffee: Our customers can choose from ground coffee, whole beans, to (Nespresso® compatible) capsules and pads. Our product range includes mild, full-bodied or decaffeinated variants, seasonal and special articles and a wide variety of aromas.
Putting a focus on responsible and sustainable sourcing
The raw beans for our high-quality coffees have their origins in Brazil, Vietnam, Honduras, Peru, Tanzania, Kenya and Colombia – among others. Environmental and labour standards in these regions are often low. Many of the farmers and coffee-growing communities are vulnerable to price volatility, deforestation and the effects of climate change.
Our goal as a company is not only to deliver first-class products, but also to ensure fair working conditions and environmentally friendly production along our coffee supply chain. To drive change, the ALDI SOUTH Group supports direct sourcing models and purchases most of its coffee from certified sources. Find out more about our actions and projects to increase sustainability in the coffee sector.
Certification and its impact on sustainability
Independent third-party certifications provide reliable mechanisms for positively influencing our supply chains. They allow us as a retailer to reinforce quality, environmental and social standards. By requiring suppliers to source from certified farms, the ALDI SOUTH Group uses its buying volume as an incentive to increase sustainable production standards. NewCoffee has led the way by sourcing the majority of its green coffee from certified farms, using internationally recognised schemes, such as Fairtrade, Fair Trade USA, Organic standard, Rainforest Alliance, and 4C.
Guaranteeing quality through high production standards
But that’s not all. NewCoffee also follows strict production standards to ensure a stable quality and security of products through sustainable production practices. NewCoffee's production facilities are IFS and ISO (50001, 45001 & 14001) certified, continuously improving energy use and management, reducing waste or increasing the use of recyclable materials while also warranting a safe working environment. The production of selected products is also Kosher certified.
How partnering with NewCoffee makes a difference
Over the past few decades, the ALDI SOUTH Group and NewCoffee have built a strong partnership and a shared and growing commitment to sustainability. We are working on integrating responsible sourcing practices that go beyond certification. Building long-term relationships with trusted coffee growers and increasing our purchasing volumes provides greater planning stability. As a result, they invest more in meeting our human rights and environmental standards.
To set ourselves up for success, we also discuss strategic issues and legislative requirements to understand how they affect us as a business and what they mean for our local coffee farmers.
Visiting coffee growing countries to better understand our coffee supply chains
In 2024, our ALDI SOUTH Group International Sustainability and Global Sourcing teams travelled to Brazil and Vietnam along with our colleagues from NewCoffee. We visited coffee farms in the countries’ main coffee growing regions to strengthen our relationships with reliable key suppliers.
A key takeaway from both trips was how the local farmers are working to comply with EU deforestation regulations. Interesting findings from Brazil were that regenerative agricultural practices can help farmers there create more climate-resilient coffee farms, and that certification continues to play a key role in reducing human and environmental risks in coffee supply chains. The focus of our Vietnam trip was to explore the possibility of buying more directly from local coffee farmers and cooperatives. This could help build stable and reliable relationships with our suppliers, have more influence over our due diligence and therefore better manage and mitigate risks in the supply chain.
We plan regular visits in the future to continue building trusted relationships with our coffee partners on the ground.
