Ugandan coffee firms debut at Swiss festival
Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Carico Coffee sold products directly to 5,500 visitors at Zurich's largest coffee trade fair.
Ugandan coffee companies Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Carico Coffee participated in the Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich from October 31 to November 1. This marked Uganda’s first appearance at Switzerland’s largest coffee trade fair, which drew about 5,500 visitors and 78 exhibitors. The companies offered tastings, met potential buyers, and sold their products directly to consumers in an effort to capture more value from their crop.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Switzerland Marcel Tibaleka stated, “We are delighted to introduce more of Uganda’s exceptional coffee brands to Swiss consumers and look forward to building lasting partnerships.” The embassy in Switzerland secured the stand for the two companies, supporting efforts to expand coffee exports and promote value addition. Carico Coffee purchases directly from approximately 1,700 smallholder farmers in the Mount Elgon region.
Uganda shipped 8.8 million 60kg bags of coffee worth $2.4 billion in the 12 months to March 2026, though over 98 percent leaves the country as unroasted green beans. The government launched a national coffee brand, “Uganda Coffee: It’s in Our Nature,” in June and aims for production exceeding 20 million bags annually by 2030. About 1.7 million Ugandan households depend on coffee for their livelihoods.
Why it mattersUgandan coffee companies are seeking to increase their earnings by selling branded coffee directly to consumers in international markets like Switzerland.