Fast Casual: BIGGBY® COFFEE to Use Only Farm-Direct Coffee

In a recent interview with Fast Casual, BIGGBY® COFFEE co-founder and co-CEO Bob Fish and his wife Michelle Fish discussed how the brand's One BIGG Island in Space initiative is helping the 280-plus-unit coffee franchise source coffee directly — and eventually exclusively — from sustainable farmers around the world.

BIGGBY® COFFEE plans to serve 50% farm-direct coffee by 2023 and 100% farm-direct coffee in the following years, in line with its mission to help franchisees, employees, customers and communities build a life they love.

"Most coffee is bought through a series of brokers," Bob Fish said in a press release. "Each additional broker increases the price. By eliminating them, we're able to pass that money onto the farmer. That farmer now has the resources to pay their workers more, use better farming practices and invest in their communities."

Bob and Michelle Fish say they are on the hunt for farm partners who treat their workers well, have good housing conditions, running water and all the necessary tools to make a farm sustainable.