Big news in the specialty coffee roasting world as Topeka, Kansasโs PTโs Coffee Roasters has acquired Bird Rock Coffee Roasters of San Diego. Officially taking effect January 31st, the merger will allow PTโs to take a primary leadership role and financial stake in Bird Rock Coffee Roasters,โ according to the press release.
PTโs and Bird Rock are both highly lauded within the industry, each winning Roast Magazineโs Roaster of the Year (Macro Roaster in 2009 and Micro Roaster in 2012, respectively). With financial backing from PTโs the goal of the merger is โto further develop the retail and wholesale efforts of the Bird Rock Coffee Roasters brandโ outside San Diego.
According to the press release the merger is based, at least in part, in the two companyโs similar direct trade philosophies. โThatโs what makes this the perfect fit,โ PTโs CEO and co-founder Jeff Taylor states. โPTโs was one of the pioneers of the Direct Trade model of purchasing and Bird Rock successfully built itself around the same principals.โ
This like-mindedness is evidenced by the fact that, while Taylor will be moving to San Diego to lead Bird Rock operations (Bird Rockerations, if you will), Bird Rock founder Chuck Patton is not simply going out to pasture but will move into the role of Head Coffee Buyer for both brands.
It remains to be seen how the merger will affect the roastersโ outputโthe coffeeโspecifically Bird Rockโs. But early indications seem to show that PTโs will still be PTโs and Bird Rock will be Bird Rock, but just with a little extra capital. Still no word on if Taylor will be buying his own surfboard or just borrowing Pattonโs while he is off at origin.
The full press release can be seen here.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via San Diego Coffee Network