New Long-Term Lease Safeguards 140 Jobs at Kauai Coffee Company – CoffeeTalk

After prolonged uncertainty surrounding Kauai Coffee Company’s future, approximately 140 jobs have been safeguarded through a new long-term agricultural lease. This lease comes after nearly two years of unproductive negotiations between the coffee company’s parent organization, Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, and landowner Brue Baukol Capital Partners (BBCP). Kauai Coffee’s general manager, Brian Kubicki, expressed pride in preserving the company’s roots and securing the workforce while looking to expand job opportunities in the future.

The new lease allows the company to innovate in farm technology and machinery while enhancing visitor experiences. It also facilitates the continuation of its Fair Trade Community Development program, which has contributed $640,000 to projects benefiting the West Side community. Operating since the late 1980s, Kauai Coffee manages 4 million coffee trees and has been owned by Massimo Zanetti since 2011, with BBCP owning the underlying land since 2022.

BBCP emphasized the lease’s role in promoting responsible stewardship of the designated 3,100 acres of Important Agricultural Lands while providing flexibility to explore additional agricultural uses for unused property. James Priestley, vice president of BBCP, stated his excitement regarding Kauai Coffee’s future and its significance as one of Hawaiʻi’s iconic agricultural brands.

In January, Kauai Coffee alerted local authorities of plans to shut down operations and lay off 136 employees. This instigated significant concern from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, representing half of Kauai’s workforce, and from local council leaders, including Mel Rapozo, who sought clarity on the company’s status. During discussions, it was revealed that 30% of employees had been with Kauai Coffee for over a decade, with a few serving for 50 years, highlighting the company’s deep community ties.

Rapozo expressed relief that both Kauai Coffee and BBCP could reach an agreement, underlining the potential loss to the local community if the farm had ceased operations. He commended the collaborative efforts of both parties to achieve an outcome beneficial to the community.

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