Roastmastir’s gives back to roots

“LESS THAN two years ago, four
~ Vancouverites got together to cre-
<ate what is today Canada’s fastest

~ growing and B.C.'s largest cappuc-

cino bar franchise.

“In-store roasting and organic
coffee is what it’s all about,” says
co-founder. Marybeth Harrison.
“Customers choose green beans
from. around the. world, they're
‘popped: jnto our unique counter-
‘top roaster and then custom roast-
ed for. the customer right on the
spot: — “and iniabout the time it
takes to drink a latté!”

“In August of 1993, Marybeth
Harrison, Tom’ Matzen, and Bill
and. Anne Outhwaite decided .to
begin a_coffee. company with a
twist: they: wanted to. make a dif-
ference in the’ coffee industry by
being as environmentally and
socially responsible as possible.

» They. wanted to create what
they fondly‘refer to as “the Body
Shop of the coffee industry.”

Their plan was realized in two
ways.

‘Firstly, realizing that coffee is
the third ‘ most: heavily . sprayed
crop in the world, the four took the

plunge into the world of environ- -

mental ‘commitment. by creating

“the first North American multi-unit .
“coffee bar to specialize in only cer- ;

‘tified organic coffee. . -
. Secondly, they.decided to make
a strong social statement by donat-

ing 25 cents from every pound of

coffee’ used to Coffee Kids®, an -

international non-profit .organiza-

tion ‘established to improve. the

quality of life for both the children
and families who live in. coffee
growing communities around the
world.

In fact, Roastmustir’s has
donated. over, $15,000 to Coffee
Kids over. the past two years and
co-founder Anne Outhwaite has
recently been nominated to be the
first Canadian representative to sit
on the Coffee Kids board of direc-
tors.

In addition to a strong environ-
mental and social commitment,
Roastmastir’s also bousts an cthi-
cal franchise system.

“We've grown so fast because
we have removed the abuse that a
lot of traditional franchises have
built into their systems; forced
product purchases at ridiculous
costs, small protected territories,
volume rebates that never make it
to the store owners, and many
other abuses are eliminated with
Roastmastir's ethical franchise
system,” states Tom Matzen,
Roastmastir’s co-founder and Vice
President for Sustainable
Development.

There ‘are currently’ 14
Roastmastir’s roasting up a storm
from West Coast Vancouver Island
to Eastern Ontario, including two
locations on the North Shore
(Capilano ~~ Mall and * 1902
Lonsdale).

And with four stores under con-
struction and 13. niore territories
awarded, Roastmastir’s is sure to
give Starbucks a-run for their
money!"

Southwest Furniture &
& Interiors .
Visit our Showroom at:

1589 Pemberton Ave.

North Vancouver
(Across from
The Cactus Club. Cafe}

980-4112.

Hours: "|
Tues.-Sat. 10:30am-5:30pm .

alasieriarie her ean |

41 LB. FRESH STEAMED ©

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.NEWS photo Pau! McGrath
ROASTMASTIR’S STAFF member Sandra Hilton’ tixes. up’ a 1 latte for a customer. The. North
Vancouver coffee house features flavorful coffee beans roasted. on the premises. te

‘ATRIUM ATRIUMINN-

. Join us at the Atrium Inn for an
extravagant Mother’ Day Brunch, —

featuring the best in local and imported -

produce, seafoods, meats and home- .
made desserts prepared by our critically

acclaimed chef Richard Zulps, winner of |

Vancouver Echo’ best hotel restaurant’
award and recently reviewed by Alex
MacGillivary, Vancouver Sun.

RESERVATIONS
RECOMMENDED

254-1000
a

Complimentary .
Rose

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ct ane

sites

‘Lonsdale Quay Market

987-3466

sna a ee ea ae ne a oe we ae we to mer

2889 East Hastings, Vancouver 254-1000.

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