Kauai Cofee Co Postpones Layoffs Another Month During Ongoing Lease Negotiations – CoffeeTalk

At Kauaʻi Coffee Co., the workforce of 136 employees faces uncertainty as potential layoffs have been postponed for one month during ongoing lease negotiations between landowner Brue Baukol Capital Partners and Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA. Despite nearly two years of discussions, a new lease agreement has yet to be reached, with the current lease expiring on March 28. Meanwhile, Kauaʻi Coffee remains operational and continues to welcome visitors, who are able to tour the grounds and purchase coffee products, although employees have chosen not to comment on the negotiations.

Brian Kubicki, the general manager, emphasized that there are no imminent plans to cease operations and expressed optimism that the discussions with the landowner would yield a favorable outcome, allowing coffee farming to continue on the property for many years. As part of compliance with federal law, the company has issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN), informing workers of potential layoffs while stating that the timeframe for these layoffs has been extended. Originally scheduled for March 14 to 28, any terminations are now slated to occur between April 18 to May 2, reflecting progress in negotiations.

James Priestley, vice president of Brue Baukol Capital Partners, reassured that both parties are dedicated to finalizing a new lease that would secure local employment and maintain agricultural operations on the land. Massimo Zanetti has indicated that past delays in signing a lease stem from unresolved issues, yet specifics on what these sticking points are have not been disclosed. In the meantime, Kauaʻi Coffee encourages ongoing visits and tours, highlighting the uniqueness of its estate-grown coffee.

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