Lloyds Bank supports family owned London coffee company

A London-based coffee merchant is expanding its reach and sustainability with the support of a multimillion trade finance package from Lloyds Bank.

Privately-owned family business Equatorial Traders, with an office in Ethiopia, sources beans from all major coffee-producing regions including Brazil, Ethiopia, Central America, Tanzania and Kenya.

The company ships worldwide, importing and delivering coffee beans to Europe, Asia and North America. The business, which mainly trades green coffee – raw, unroasted coffee beans – also has a specialist importing arm, Kamba Coffee, which sources and distributes coffees to independent, speciality and artisan roasters and retailers.

Lloyds Bank, as one of Equatorial Traders’ banking partners, has provided a $10.6m trade finance package for the business, which primarily buys and sells in dollars.

The funding will provide Equatorial Traders with additional working capital to support its growth strategy and commitment to sustainable development. More than 15 per cent of the coffee the business trades is certified through one or more sustainable coffee program, with the majority certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

In addition to the purchase of sustainably certified coffees, Equatorial Traders is putting in place a thorough sustainability commitment through various channels.

Equatorial Traders, which was founded in 1991 and now employs 14 staff at its London office and a team of 10 in Ethiopia, has been a customer of Lloyds Bank since 2020. It has a current annual turnover of around £60m.

Will Lenton-Brook, head of operations at Equatorial Traders, said: “We are delighted to have Lloyds Bank participate in our banking pool. This partnership will add further support to our strategy, enabling us to continue adding value and driving sustainability across the coffee value chain from the farmer to the consumer.”

Eleanor Cox, London sector head of manufacturing, wholesale and industrials at Lloyds Bank, added: “Equatorial Traders’ work really spans the global coffee market. From production to wholesale and with a tangible focus on sustainability and job creation, it’s a uniquely collaborative enterprise.

“We feel proud to be by the side of the business and to help enable the next stage of its growth journey.”