A West Cumbrian coffee roastery is launching a new brand – and it’s helping the local community.
Former Cockermouth School pupil Mark Armstrong and his wife Jean run Shiloh Coffee Roasters and last year relocated the business from Leeds to Whitehaven’s Haig Enterprise Park.
Now they are launching a second brand, New Eden Coffee Roasters, focused on supplying wholesale ethical coffee to churches and other organisations – and supporting good causes along the way.
Mark, 40, who now lives in Cockermouth, said: “We’re excited to build on the continuing success of Shiloh.”
The brand will donate five per cent of its profits to local church mission, starting with Whitehaven’s Woodbank Community Church in Whitehaven, which the Armstrong family joined after relocating.
This will be used to support projects that will be run by the church for the local community.
Another five per cent of the business’s profits will go to the BeFree campaign run by Elim Missions.
Mark said: “It’s important to us that New Eden doesn’t just provide great coffee but also serves the community, both here where we roast and overseas where the coffee is grown.
“Supporting the church to serve the community is one way we can say thank you for the warm West Cumbrian welcome we’ve received since relocating.”
Barry Appleby, senior pastor at Woodbank Community Church, said: “I’m really excited about Mark and Jean’s new venture and grateful for their generosity in supporting the church’s work to help the community.
“We’re working behind the scenes to shape what our outreach work will look like and we’re keen to hear what the community would like to see.
“Ultimately, I think hospitality is key to helping people feel welcome and to create a sense of belonging, and we’re excited as a church to be able to serve New Eden coffee to everyone who comes through our doors.
“I’m excited for the impact New Eden’s support will have on the BeFree movement, I’m excited about what we’ll be able to do locally and I’m excited for Mark and Jean as they embark on this new venture.”
While Shiloh Coffee Roasters will continue to supply individual customers and coffee shops with ethical single-origin and blended coffees from around
the world, New Eden will offer a selection of high-quality blends, providing consistency as well as great taste.
And, as well as being available in large bags like Shiloh coffee, New Eden’s range is also available in filter packs, providing just the right amount of coffee for a jug of filter coffee.
Mark, who grew up in Great Broughton, is an experienced chef who has previously worked at the Melbreak Hotel at Little Clifton and has transferred his culinary skills and knowledge to his coffee roasting.
He added: “Churches who have previously bought from Shiloh have found that coffee that suits members’ tastebuds – and being able to source that coffee on an ongoing basis – is important, and that’s where New Eden comes in.
“Shiloh prides itself on taking customers on a flavour-filled journey around the coffee growing world and introducing them to new tastes and coffee-production techniques. New Eden is all about providing both the high quality and consistency that churches and other organisations long for from their coffee.”
