Heine Brothers' facts for kids
Heine Brothers' location in Louisville's Crescent Hill neighborhood
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| Industry | Coffee shop |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Products | Coffee, tea |
Heine Brothers' is a popular chain of coffee shops. It also roasts its own coffee beans. The company started in 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky. Gary Heine and Mike Mays were the founders. Mike Mays is currently the company's President.
Heine Brothers' has between 200 and 300 employees. They are known for their focus on fair trade and organic coffee.
Contents
The Story of Heine Brothers'
How It All Began
The very first Heine Brothers' coffee shop opened in 1994. It was located in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville. This was the start of their journey.
Fair Trade and Growth
In 2002, Heine Brothers' made a big change. All their coffee became "100% Fair-Trade & Organic". This means farmers get a fair price for their coffee. It also means the coffee is grown without harmful chemicals.
In 2011, co-founder Mike Mays bought out Gary Heine's share. He then combined Heine Brothers' with another local coffee chain called Vint. Today, there are 16 Heine Brothers' coffee shops. They are located in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Working with Others
In 1999, Heine Brothers' helped start Cooperative Coffees, Inc. This group imports green coffee beans. These beans are grown fairly and organically. The cooperative works in the United States and Canada.
In 2015, Heine Brothers' teamed up with the Forecastle Foundation. They also worked with Whole Foods Market. Together, they created a special coffee blend called "Kentucky Dream". This coffee helped raise money for conservation efforts.
New Headquarters and Community Help
In November 2016, the company moved its roasting facilities. Their main office also moved to the Portland neighborhood in Louisville.
In August 2017, Heine Brothers' partnered with WDRB. This is a local TV station. They gave out special glasses for the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. They raised $50,702 from this event. All the money was given to the Louisville Science Center.
In 2021, Heine Brothers' opened another new shop. This one was in Valley Station.
Workers Form a Union
On May 10, 2022, some Heine Brothers' workers announced something important. They wanted to form a union. A union helps workers have a stronger voice. On March 17, 2023, the workers' union reached an agreement with the company. This was their first official contract.
Where Their Coffee Comes From
Heine Brothers' gets its coffee from many places. Farmers in different parts of the world grow the beans. These farmers are part of cooperatives.
- Central America: Countries like the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
- South America: Countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
- Africa: Specifically, Ethiopia.
- Indonesia: Islands like Sumatra and East Timor.
