Woods Coffee facts for kids
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| Industry | Restaurants Retail coffee and tea |
|---|---|
| Founded | Lynden, Washington (2002) |
| Headquarters | |
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Number of locations
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20 (as of 2024) |
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Area served
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Western Washington |
| Products | Whole Bean Coffee Made-to-order beverages Baked goods Merchandise Frappe beverages Smoothies |
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Number of employees
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200 (as of 2011) |
Woods Coffee is a popular chain of coffee shops located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. They have 20 coffee shop locations, mostly serving northwestern Washington state. The company started in Lynden, Washington, in 2002. Their main office is in Bellingham, Washington.
Contents
The Story of Woods Coffee
How Woods Coffee Started
Woods Coffee was created in 2002 by the Herman family. They lived in Lynden, Washington. The family had a dream to open a chain of coffee shops. They worked together and used their skills to open the very first Woods Coffee shop in Lynden.
Loyalty Program and Awards
In 2005, Woods Coffee improved its customer loyalty program. Before, customers used paper cards that were punched. The new system used special plastic cards. These cards had a tiny chip inside that could be read by a machine. This system was called SpeedBean.
By 2007, about 7,500 SpeedBean cards were being used. About 40% of all customers used these cards. Customers could add money to their cards automatically from their bank account. People using SpeedBean cards spent more money than those paying with cash.
In October 2008, Woods Coffee was named the Green Business of the Year. This award came from the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry. A few months later, a local newspaper, The Bellingham Herald, said Woods Coffee had the best local coffee. The next year, the newspaper again said it was the best coffee shop.
Making Their Own Products
In January 2011, Woods Coffee opened its own bakery. They started making their own baked goods. The company realized that buying baked goods from other companies did not keep the quality they wanted. They also started making their own sandwiches.
By January 2014, Woods Coffee began roasting its own coffee beans. This meant they controlled the whole process from bean to cup. In April 2016, they opened the Woods Coffee Roastery. This was a special place where people could watch coffee being roasted. It also had a tasting room and a cold brew system.
In 2019, the company's chief operating officer, Kelly Spiker, shared a plan. She said Woods Coffee hoped to open two to five new locations each year.
Where You Can Find Woods Coffee
First Locations
The very first Woods Coffee shop opened in February 2002. It was located near Bender Fields in Lynden, Washington. Since then, the company has opened more shops in the Lynden area.
Expanding to New Areas
In 2016, Woods Coffee opened a store in Bellevue, Washington. This was their first location in King County.
The company also opened its first international store in July 2016. This shop was in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada. It was the only Woods Coffee outside the United States. However, this Canadian location closed in 2019. A new coffee shop took its place, and it kept the same staff.
