With the ongoing coffee craze worldwide, Stewarts Coffee, a family-owned business over a century old, thrives amidst the competition. This Chicago-based company has been serving its devoted customers a special "private blend" while also evolving in an increasingly competitive environment. The firm fights to retain retail shelf space and is determined to innovate in this changing landscape according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Joey Cappuccitti, Stewarts Coffee's COO, plays many roles within the company, from roasting and grinding coffee beans to supervising sales and production. Ensuring the commitment to quality, he also oversees daily tasks such as delivery and warehouse duties. Cappuccitti strives hard to continue to serve the loyal patrons of Stewarts Coffee over the years.
The company takes great pride in its “private blend” that comprises 100% Arabica beans—a recipe that Joey Cappuccitti insists has been unchanged since the foundation of the company. The blend's premium taste and aroma have captivated a specific customer base for Stewarts, allowing it to persist and prosper despite retail hurdles, including the shutdown of Dominick's a decade ago as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Broadening its reach, Stewarts has enhanced its online presence, providing an opportunity for both former residents of Chicago and potential new customers to appreciate this "private blend." The company's website offers this unique blend in 12oz resealable bags, honoring its century-old formula.
Despite facing competition from giants like Folgers and Maxwell House, Stewarts Coffee continues to secure its niche by offering smaller, pricier, and quality-focused products. One key offering was their signature "scoon," a smaller measuring spoon. Even after the scoon manufacturer's closure, the company's commitment to offering unique products to its dedicated clientele persists.
In terms of retail space, Stewarts Coffee relies heavily on Jewel-Osco. Jewel's decades-long collaboration to support local products recently allowed Stewarts' coffee to be placed higher on their shelves, granting improved visibility. Pushing forward, Cappuccitti aims to secure distributorship deals with other grocers, such as Caputo's and Pete's Fresh Market.
Aside from their "private blend," Stewarts Coffee has been expanding their private label business, packaging coffees under other businesses like the Edward Jones brokerage and the Patrick auto dealer chain. Notably, their Project Donate line offers coffee for a cause—in every bag sold, 40% of the sale goes to fighting diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's or supporting the Lurie Children's Hospital. Stewarts is also seeking more foundation partners on their website to grow Project Donate according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
As coffee demand continues to surge, Stewarts Coffee's adept adaptation to market changes and dogged customer centricity ensure this age-old business remains resilient. From securing advantageous retail placements to online expansion and fostering private label partnerships, the Cappuccitti family demonstrates that Stewarts Coffee is a formidable name in the coffee world.
