Experienced FMCG leader Steve Bean has been announced as the new General Manager of Grinders Coffee.
Bean brings over 20 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, having worked in senior roles at Coca-Cola Amatil, Mondelez, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).
“I’m thrilled to have taken on this exciting role at Grinders Coffee. The team at Grinders is so passionate about the coffee industry, and their enthusiasm is contagious. After years of leading teams and planning commercial growth strategies, it feels like a natural fit.
“I’ve spent years working in categories that are pivotal to retailer success and highly connected to consumer emotion and pleasure. The coffee industry feels like it has those same elements, if not more so, which is exciting for me. And add my surname to the mix, it almost feels like it was meant to be.”
Bean’s career highlights include leading commercial planning for Mondelez Australia, managing revenue strategies across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa from Singapore, and overseeing a team of nearly 300 in his most recent role at CCEP.
At Grinders Coffee, Bean plans to focus on leveraging the brand’s heritage and expertise to support its customers.
“Through my career, I’ve learned that having great products, a strong brand, or a fantastic supply chain is only truly beneficial if you can leverage them in service of your customer.
“It’s my honest belief that the best path for any manufacturer or brand owner to achieve sustainable growth, is to grow the business of their customer.
“I believe Grinders is uniquely positioned to do just that. We have a rich heritage in the coffee industry, with deep expertise embedded within our team. Additionally, being part of a bigger organisation means we are able to tap into a global network of partners and colleagues, most of whom are considered world’s best practice in their own areas of expertise
“This combination of great coffee, impeccable service, industry expertise and dependable quality is a powerful tool we can offer our customers.”
Despite challenges like rising green bean costs, Bean is optimistic about the future.
“While these conditions may be difficult, I believe they also present an opportunity for innovation. I am hopeful that we will all continue to work on new and exciting products that create value for our customers whilst finding more efficiency in our systems, processes, or facilities. More than ever, I believe maintaining sustainable practices and focusing on waste reduction will be critical and hope that collectively we can continue focusing on this.”
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