George Steuarts launches James Coffee to delight coffee lovers

George Steuart Consumer recently launched its latest addition to the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) basket ‘James Coffee’ in 20g and 50g packaging.

James Coffee will be made available across the island initially in general trade outlets and supermarket chains will follow in the near future.

Coffee was the main export commodity in Ceylon in the early 1800. James Steuart was one of the pioneers in coffee trading who engaged in collecting coffee beans from plantations across the country and then curing them at his own mill ‘Wekande Mills’ prior to shipping them in wooden barrels as early as 1836.

George Steuart & Company, as a dynamic planters’ agency by 1866, covered 65 estates with 34,000 acres. James Coffee has been made from the finest coffee beans, which are carefully selected, cleaned, roasted and grounded using modern machinery and methods that preserve freshness, aroma and taste.

George Steuarts & Co Consumer Chief Executive Officer Paddy Weerasekera said, “We are delighted to introduce yet another quality product, which is presented by a company that has an undisputable association to coffee as early as the 1800s. We see a fast-developing coffee culture not only in the urban areas but across the island.

In his regard, we saw an opportunity to offer consumers a quality coffee brand at an ideal price point. Our coffee beans are collected from the hill capital region having a specific size, level of ripeness and overall quality to ensure the best of the best beans go into our end product. These beans have also been kept for a longer period of time for drying so the taste is not compromised.”

Established in 1835 by brothers James and George Steuart, George Steuart & Company stands proud today as the oldest corporate house locally and one of the oldest mercantile establishments in the world. Today, George Steuart has become one of the fastest expanding conglomerates in Sri Lanka, having a diverse range of businesses in almost every industry.

George Steuart Consumer produces, distributes and markets a number of FMCG products including tea, beauty care, coffee and household, commercial and personal cleaning liquids.