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Westrock Coffee Company (WEST) is a leading integrated solutions provider specializing in coffee, tea, flavors, extracts, and ingredients. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including coffee sourcing, supply chain management, product development, roasting, packaging, and distribution. WEST serves a diverse customer base across industries such as retail, food service, hospitality, and consumer packaged goods globally, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
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Beverage Solutions - Delivers value-added beverage products in various packaging formats, including branded and private label coffee in bags, fractional packs, single-serve cups, multi-serve bottles, and ready-to-drink cans. Serves customers across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
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Sustainable Sourcing & Traceability - Utilizes proprietary technology and a digitally traceable supply chain to empower farming partners through economic, environmental, and literacy initiatives. Primarily generates revenue from commodity contracts related to forward sales of green coffee.
Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
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Scott T. Ford ExecutiveBoard | Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer | Co-Founder and CEO, Westrock Group; Chairman, Westrock Asset Management, LLC; Board Member, AT&T Inc.; Board Member, Agaciro Development Fund; Special Advisor, The Stephens Group, LLC | Scott T. Ford is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Westrock Coffee Company, a role he has held since 2009. He has been instrumental in driving the company’s strategic growth and innovation while also serving as a Director on the board. Beyond his leadership at WEST, Ford is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Westrock Group and has served in key capacities at Westrock Asset Management, LLC, including as Chairman. Additionally, he contributes his expertise as a board member at AT&T Inc. and Agaciro Development Fund and acts as a Special Advisor to The Stephens Group, LLC. | View Report → |
Blake Schuhmacher Executive | Chief Accounting Officer | Blake Schuhmacher is the Chief Accounting Officer of Westrock Coffee Company since May 2021. He manages the accounting functions for Westrock and its subsidiaries including Westrock Beverage, Westrock Coffee Roasting, LLC, S. & D. Coffee, Inc., and Westrock Beverage Company. Previously, he served as CAO at Uniti Group Inc. and held key roles at Wright Medical Technology, PwC, and EY, gaining extensive experience in financial planning, analysis, and assurance. A licensed CPA with degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from Rhodes College, his background demonstrates a strong commitment to financial excellence and operational efficiency. | ||
Robert P. McKinney Executive | Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | Robert P. McKinney is a seasoned legal and corporate governance expert who has served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Westrock since January 2021. He held previous leadership roles within Westrock, including serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for its subsidiary, thereby reinforcing his executive expertise. Before joining Westrock, he amassed significant experience at companies such as Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. and EnPro Industries, Inc., which further honed his legal and strategic acumen. His robust academic background in economics, law, and business underpins his comprehensive approach to corporate governance and legal compliance. | ||
T. Christopher Pledger Executive | Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | T. Christopher Pledger is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Westrock Coffee Company since January 2021. He oversees all finance, accounting, and tax functions globally while leading strategic acquisitions and global expansion initiatives. He has held multiple roles at Westrock, including President of Westrock Coffee International, LLC since November 2017, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Corporate Development from February 2020 to January 2021, and General Counsel from October 2013 to February 2020. Additionally, he serves on the boards of Falcon Coffees Limited and Rwanda Trading Company, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Centenary College of Louisiana and a Juris Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. | ||
Hugh McColl Board | Independent Director | Co-Managing Member at Collwick Capital LLC; Managing Member at McColl Brothers Lockwood; Senior Advisor at BBH Capital Partners; Board Member at Heritage Brands Inc.; Board Member at MIRA Pharmaceuticals; Board Member at Foro Holdings Inc.; Board Member at Telomir Pharmaceuticals; Board Member at Fintag Holdings Inc. | Hugh McColl, III is an Independent Director at Westrock, having joined the board in 2022 and serving as the Chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. He brings extensive expertise in business and finance from his roles at Collwick Capital LLC, McColl Brothers Lockwood, and BBH Capital Partners. His career is marked by multiple board memberships and leadership positions across varied industries. He also holds strong academic credentials with a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. | |
Jeffrey H. Fox Board | Independent Director | CEO of Circumference Group LLC; President, CEO, and Director of Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc.; CEO and Chairman of Convergys Corporation; Chief Operating Officer at Alltel Corporation; Board member at Avis Budget Group, Inc.; Board member at Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. | Jeffrey H. Fox has extensive leadership experience built over several decades in finance, operations, and strategic roles. He has served as a director at Westrock Coffee Company since 2020, functioning as an Independent Director and Class III director with a term expiring in 2025. Outside of WEST, he founded Circumference Group LLC in 2009 and led Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc. as President, CEO, and Director from 2017 to 2021, in addition to holding executive roles at Convergys Corporation and Alltel Corporation. He has further demonstrated his expertise by serving on the boards of Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. | |
Joe T. Ford Board | Co-Founder and Chairman | Chairman of Westrock Group; Chairman of Westrock Asset Management, LLC | Joe T. Ford is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Westrock Coffee Company (WEST), a position he has held since 2009. He has built an impressive career with leadership roles that span industries such as telecommunications, where he served in top roles at Allied Telephone Company and Alltel Corporation. Beyond his contributions at WEST, he co-founded Westrock Group in 2013 and led Westrock Asset Management, LLC from 2009 to 2022. His extensive board experience and strategic vision have been pivotal in shaping corporate governance and long-term growth. | |
Josie C. Natori Board | Director | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Natori Company; Former Director, Alltel Corporation; Board Member, Asian Cultural Council; Board Member, Orchestra of St. Luke's; Board Member, Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation | Josie C. Natori has served as a director of Westrock since 2020 and is a member of the Compensation Committee, underscoring her dedication to corporate governance. She is widely recognized as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Natori Company since 1977, establishing a significant presence in the global fashion industry. Prior to launching her own company, she excelled in investment banking at Merrill Lynch, breaking ground as the first female Vice President in that field. Additionally, her extensive board service—including roles with the Asian Cultural Council, Orchestra of St. Luke's, and the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation, as well as a previous directorship at Alltel Corporation—demonstrates her broad leadership experience. | |
Kenneth M. Parent Board | Vice Chairman of the Board | Kenneth M. Parent is a non-employee director and 10% owner at Westrock Coffee Company, where he serves as a Class I director and was designated as Vice Chairman of the Board on November 5, 2024. He is also a member of the Audit & Finance Committee and the Compensation Committee at the company. While his contributions at WEST are well documented, detailed information about his broader background and previous roles is not available in the provided documents. | ||
Leslie Starr Board | Independent Director | Independent Director at Riverview Acquisition Corp; EVP, Supply Strategy and Transformation at Advance Auto Parts; Senior Vice President roles at PepsiCo; Board Member at SunOpta, Inc.; Former Board Member at Chesapeake Energy Corporation | Leslie Starr is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience, serving as an Independent Director on the board of Westrock Coffee Company since 2022. She plays an integral role on the Compensation Committee and the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee at WEST. Prior to her current position, she held transformative roles at Advance Auto Parts and PepsiCo, where she led supply strategy, transformation initiatives, and managed extensive supply chain operations. Additionally, her contributions extend to board memberships at Riverview Acquisition Corp, SunOpta, Inc., and Chesapeake Energy Corporation. | |
Mark A. Edmunds Board | Independent Director | Leadership Coach for Executives | Mark A. Edmunds serves as an Independent Director at Westrock Coffee Company. He has built a distinguished career in accounting and finance, having retired as Partner and Vice Chairman at Deloitte in 2019 after a 38-year tenure. He joined the Westrock board on August 26, 2022, and now serves as Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee. Recognized as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules, he brings extensive leadership and strategic advisory experience to the board. | |
Oluwatoyin Umesiri Board | Independent Director, Class I | Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nazaru LLC; Member of Illinois District Export Council; Various Portfolio Management Roles at Walmart Inc.; Various Senior Analyst Roles at Whirlpool Corporation; Ambassador for Intra-African Trade Fair | Oluwatoyin Umesiri has an extensive background in business leadership, technology, and global trade. She currently serves as an Independent Director, Class I at WEST, having joined the board in 2022 and serves on the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Her expertise extends to global supply chain solutions, and she is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nazaru LLC since 2017. Additionally, she holds external roles including membership at the Illinois District Export Council and has held senior positions at Walmart Inc. and Whirlpool Corporation, reinforcing her strategic impact. | |
R. Brad Martin Board | Independent Director and Lead Director | Chairman of Riverview Acquisition Corp; CEO of Riverview Acquisition Corp; Chairman of RBM Ventures; Vice Chairman of the Board of FedEx Corporation; Chairman and CEO of Saks Incorporated; Executive Chairman of Saks Incorporated; Non-Executive Chairman of Chesapeake Energy Corporation; Lead Director at lululemon athletica, Inc.; Executive Committee Chair at First Horizon National Corporation; Director at Caesars Entertainment Corporation; Audit Committee Chair at Dillard’s Inc.; Audit Committee Chair at Gaylord Entertainment Company; Director at Ruby Tuesday, Inc.; Board Member at Pilot Company; Interim President of University of Memphis; State Legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives | R. Brad Martin joined Westrock on August 26, 2022 as an Independent Director and Lead Director, a role in which he also chairs the Compensation and Executive Committees. He has an extensive career in business and finance, having taken on leadership roles across multiple industries. His previous positions include serving as Chairman and CEO at Riverview Acquisition Corp and Saks Incorporated, among other influential roles. These experiences underscore his expertise in corporate governance and strategic oversight at Westrock. | |
R. Patrick Kruczek Board | Director | Managing Director, Co-Manager, and Principal at BBH Capital Partners; President and Chief Operating Officer at Morgan Keegan & Company; Vice Chairman — Investor at Pacific Global Investment Management | R. Patrick Kruczek is an independent director at Westrock Coffee Company since February 2020. He serves on the Audit & Finance, Compensation, and Executive Committees and qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules. With extensive experience in investment banking and corporate governance, he has held roles as Managing Director, Co-Manager, and Principal at BBH Capital Partners; President and Chief Operating Officer at Morgan Keegan & Company; and Vice Chairman — Investor at Pacific Global Investment Management. His diverse background underscores his expertise in strategic management and financial oversight. |
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Your 2025 guidance is lower than previously projected due to potential risks like higher coffee prices and conservatism around the Conway facility ramp-up; can you quantify how much of the guidance reduction is attributed to higher coffee prices versus delays in Conway's commercialization, and how confident are you in your mitigation strategies?
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Given the significant capital expenditures of $288 million on the Conway facility and the expectation of increased leverage reaching 5.7x in mid-2025, how are you managing the risk of potential delays in customer onboarding and the impact on your leverage ratios and liquidity?
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With the recent decline in volumes in core coffee and single serve products, down 13% and 16% respectively, what specific actions are you taking to reverse this trend, and how confident are you that new customer agreements will compensate for these declines?
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You mentioned that higher green coffee prices might impact consumer demand in the back half of the year; to what extent have you factored this potential decline into your 2025 outlook, and what strategies are in place to mitigate this risk?
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Regarding your "take or pay" contracts with customers for the Conway facility, can you elaborate on how flexible you are with customers who may want to adjust their commitments, and how does this impact your revenue projections and capacity utilization?
Competitors mentioned in the company's latest 10K filing.
Company | Description |
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In the U.S. coffee and tea industry, this competitor offers products that directly compete with the company's offerings in the same market segment. | |
Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc. | This competitor is part of the U.S. coffee and tea industry, competing with the company's products in similar categories. |
Trilliant Food and Nutrition, LLC | This competitor operates in the U.S. coffee and tea industry, providing products that rival the company's offerings. |
This competitor is active in the U.S. coffee and tea industry, offering products that compete with the company's portfolio. | |
Finlays | This competitor operates in both the U.S. coffee and tea industry and the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, competing with the company's products in these segments. |
Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group | This competitor is active in both the U.S. and international coffee and tea industries, providing products that compete with the company's offerings. |
Royal Cup Coffee | This competitor is part of the U.S. coffee and tea industry, offering products that rival the company's offerings. |
Sunny Sky Products | This competitor operates in both the U.S. coffee and tea industry and the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, competing with the company's products in these segments. |
Kerry Foodservice Brands | This competitor is part of the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, offering products that compete with the company's offerings. |
Javo Beverage | This competitor operates in the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, providing products that rival the company's offerings. |
Givaudan | This competitor is active in the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, offering products that compete with the company's portfolio. |
Symrise | This competitor operates in the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, providing products that rival the company's offerings. |
This competitor is part of the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, offering products that compete with the company's offerings. | |
Treatt | This competitor operates in the flavors, extracts, and ingredients industry, providing products that rival the company's offerings. |
Dairy Farmers of America | This competitor is a historically dominant legacy manufacturer in the multi-serve and RTD industry, competing with the company's products. |
O-AT-KA Milk Products LLC | This competitor is a historically dominant legacy manufacturer in the multi-serve and RTD industry, offering products that rival the company's offerings. |
Berner Foods | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, providing products that compete with the company's offerings. |
BevHub LLC | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, offering products that rival the company's offerings. |
Niagara Bottling | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, providing products that compete with the company's offerings. |
HP Hood | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, offering products that rival the company's offerings. |
Fairlife LLC | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, providing products that compete with the company's offerings. |
Steuben Foods | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, offering products that rival the company's offerings. |
Mountaintop Beverage, LLC | This competitor is a newer entrant in the multi-serve and RTD industry, providing products that compete with the company's offerings. |
UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., LTD | This competitor is active in the international coffee and tea industry, offering products that compete with the company's portfolio. |
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
Company | Year | Details |
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Bixby Roasting Co. | 2023 | Westrock Coffee Company acquired Bixby Roasting Co. on February 28, 2023, for a total consideration of approximately $2.6 million (comprised of $2.2 million cash and 39,778 shares of common stock). The acquisition expanded Westrock’s product marketing, development capabilities, and included key assets such as a specialty roasting facility in Los Angeles, along with the integration of Bixby’s co-founders into senior management. |
Kohana Coffee, LLC | 2022 | Westrock Beverage Solutions, LLC (a subsidiary of Westrock Coffee Company) acquired Kohana Coffee, LLC on November 14, 2022, for a total consideration of $39.1 million (including $15.7 million cash and 1,852,608 common shares valued at $23.4 million). The strategic move was aimed at accelerating the development, production, and distribution of ready-to-drink (RTD) products, with key assets including extraction, packaging capabilities, and a refined purchase price allocation incorporating significant goodwill and intangible assets. |
Riverview Acquisition Corp. | 2022 | Riverview Acquisition Corp. was involved in a merger transaction with Westrock Coffee entities, finalized in 2022. The deal, initiated by a Transaction Agreement on April 4, 2022, involved a SPAC merger and subsequent LLC merger, which culminated in Westrock’s conversion to a Delaware corporation and its listing on Nasdaq as “WEST”; the transaction also included PIPE financing with gross proceeds of $221.5 million (netting approximately $201.4 million). |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for WEST.
- Segment performance: In Q4 2024, Westrock delivered combined segment adjusted EBITDA of $21 million with the Beverage Solutions unit achieving $17.8 million (up 53% YoY) and the SS&T segment growing by 52% YoY, reflecting strong operational execution.
- Capital investments and cost considerations: The company continued its aggressive expansion with nearly $400 million invested in new production facilities and scale-ups—including significant Conway extract and RTD plant expenditures that led to $7.6 million in scale-up operating costs in Q4 and $12.8 million over full year 2024.
- Guidance amid market challenges: Looking ahead, Westrock forecast consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $66.5 million in fiscal 2025 (incorporating cautious assumptions around higher green coffee prices and a phased RTD ramp-up) with expectations to reach $140 million in fiscal 2026.
- Q4 2024 financials: Reported net sales of $229.0 million (a 6.5% increase) with a net loss of $24.6 million, reflecting ongoing challenges despite growth.
- Operational performance: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA reached $13.3 million, which included significant scale-up costs at the Conway Facility.
- Segment highlights: Beverage Solutions delivered essentially flat net sales paired with a strong EBITDA increase, while the Sustainable Sourcing & Traceability segment experienced robust growth in both net sales and EBITDA.
- Forward-looking guidance: The company provided detailed 2025 and 2026 outlooks with EBITDA ranges and noted upcoming volume growth and capacity expansions to drive future performance.