160 Years of Brewing Success: Matthew Algie’s Journey.
October 1st, 2024 | Other
This year, we’re celebrating an incredible 160 years in business! What started as a small tea-blending company in Glasgow has evolved into one of the UK’s leading coffee roasters, with over 400 employees keeping the country caffeinated every day.
The Beginnings
Our story began in Greenock, a bustling port town near Glasgow. Our founder, Matthew Algie, started out as a tea merchant, selling tea imported through the port and soon established his own wholesale tea-blending business. For decades, the company focused on tea, enduring two World Wars, but by the 1950s, with coffee’s growing popularity, the business adapted and shifted focus to selling coffee. It wasn’t long before Matthew Algie and Company began roasting our own coffee beans, then moving to the historic Lawmoor Street roastery in 1964 where we are still operating to this day!
Meet The Team Behind It All
The successes we’ve had over the years are due to the dedication and expertise of our staff. Many of them have been part of the journey for decades, helping shape the company into what it is today.
Our much-loved Mark O’Neil has been with us for 29 years, starting as a forklift driver and now serving as Coffee Production Manager. Mark attributes his long tenure to the company’s strong, family-owned ethos, which makes employees feel valued and part of something bigger. We take pride in being a living-wage employer that nurtures talent from within, and we think that’s why we have so many long-standing employees (or it could be all the free coffee!).
Similarly, Robert Milne, our Roastery and Site Manager, has been with us for 23 years. He credits his long service to the company’s forward-thinking approach, particularly in sustainability. We were one of the first businesses in the UK to prioritise ethical practices, understanding that our actions impact both the planet and its people. This forward-thinking ethos led us to be the first supplier of Fairtrade coffee in the UK, and our commitment continues as we work towards achieving Net –Zero by 2040.
Angela Wilson, our Head of Customer Service, reflected on why she’s been with our company for so many years. She values how we’ve stayed true to our roots by proudly remaining in Glasgow, but what truly keeps her here is the team around her. Being surrounded by colleagues who consistently strive to deliver excellent service with every order brings a sense of pride and fulfilment to her work.
Roasting the Finest Coffee for Generations
Over the years, we’ve continued to thrive, roasting exceptional coffee and keeping the UK’s coffee cups full day in and day out. With 160 years of history, we’re proud to bring generations of expertise and innovation to every espresso poured, and we’re delighted our efforts haven’t gone unnoticed! In recent years, we’ve achieved Best Coffee Roaster at the 2022 European Coffee Awards, Most Outstanding Business at the 2023 Glasgow Business Awards and the Engineering Excellence Award at this year’s Scotland Engineering Awards. Bravo!
For us, coffee is more than just accolades—it’s our passion. It represents the hard work of everyone involved, from farmers and roasters to engineers and our customer service team. So many hands contribute to creating the best possible coffee experience. For us, it’s definitely more than just a cup of coffee.
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Future
In 2016, Matthew Algie joined the Tchibo family, a renowned, family-owned German coffee company, further driving our commitment to sustainability and excellence. Since then, we’ve taken bold steps to enhance our eco-friendly practices, including a major multi-million-pound investment in our roastery. This investment will streamline production and support our ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040.
As we celebrate 160 years of coffee craftsmanship, our focus remains on the future. With cutting-edge innovations and a dedicated team driving our sustainability efforts, we’re excited for what’s next. Stay connected—there’s so much more to come as we continue to lead the way in creating a greener, more sustainable coffee industry!
Thanks for reading, from all of us at the Matthew Algie family.
Founder Matthew Algie, with colleagues
Find out more about our journey in this article by the Herald: Behind the scenes at the Scots coffee roaster celebrating 160 years | The Herald (heraldscotland.com). Or see all of our milestones on the Matthew Algie History page.
