Adams County's Coda Coffee Named "Colorado Company to Watch"

DENVER, CO, December 15, 2010 (Press-News.org) Adams County Economic Development (ACED), a non-profit corporation dedicated to expanding the economy of Adams County, today announced that Coda Coffee has been recognized as This Week's Colorado Company to Watch. Governor Ritter's economic development team selected the six-year-old company to receive the honor because of its outstanding growth, job creation, commitment to the environment, unique company culture, social responsibility and quality goods.

Colorado Companies to Watch is a dynamic program honoring second-stage growing companies that are developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and building new industries throughout Colorado. The State of Colorado supports Colorado Companies to Watch through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade both in leadership and sponsorship.

Coda Coffee is an Organic Fair Trade wholesale coffee roaster, distributing nationally and internationally to cafes, offices, restaurants and private label distributors. The company employs 17 people, including founding brothers Tim and Tommy Thwaites, who lead the organization out of its environmentally conscious headquarters at 1751 East 58th Avenue in Denver. Coda Coffee's revenue growth has been steady, and despite the economic downturn in 2009, the coffee roaster was able to hire four full-time employees and initiated its first merger/acquisition with a new satellite office in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 2010.

Coda Coffee focuses on excellence through education, advocacy and partnerships. For employees, that means providing better wages, benefits and fun, self-satisfying career opportunities. The Adams County company sponsors numerous running events with free coffee, and subsidizes employee entry fees to encourage participation. For retail distributors, Coda Coffee is thorough in its partner training to ensure that each coffee bean's seven-year life cycle ends up well-brewed in a fresh cup of coffee. Coda Coffee also serves as a one-stop shop for many of its customers by providing a variety of products beyond coffee, such as creamers and cups.

"Receiving this recognition is a tremendous honor for us," said Tim Thwaites. "Coda Coffee was just a dream 6 years ago and to see where we've come and the local growers and their communities that we've been able to help is very humbling and exciting."

Coda Coffee is dedicated to social responsibility by helping their farmers learn best practices for creating a high-quality product. Both Tim and Tommy are passionate about helping the communities and local farmers who supply their coffee and in the 6 years since Coda Coffee has been in business their coffee purchases have supplied text books for kids in Monserrate Colombia and helped grade a main supply road to the village of Trapichitos in Guatemala.

"Everyone at Coda Coffee deserves congratulations for what the company has accomplished and for all that it represents," said Bill Becker, ACED's President and CEO. "With its focus on social responsibility and environmental consciousness while providing great tasting and high-quality products, Coda Coffee is a tremendous credit to our community."

To learn more about Colorado Companies to Watch, visit http://www.colorado.companiestowatch.org and to find a local Coda Coffee retail outlet and to learn more about the company, go to http://www.codacoffee.com.

ABOUT ADAMS COUNTY
Adams County covers 1,187 square miles on the northern tier of the six-county Denver metropolitan area. It surrounds the Denver International Airport on three sides, and is centrally located approximately 15 minutes from either downtown Denver or Boulder. It ranks among the top five largest counties in the state, with a population of approximately 442,000 residents, and is projected to be the fastest growing county in the metro Denver area over the next two decades. Adams County is considered the most diverse in the metro area in terms of mixed-use characteristics, and offers one of the best transportation networks in the state. It is the home to the Fitzsimmons Colorado Bioscience Research Park, Front Range Airport and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Boasting diverse housing opportunities, a highly educated workforce, and close proximity to the region's major colleges, universities and research facilities, Adams County offers a strong pro-business climate and outstanding quality of life for employees and companies.