In 2016, Guillaume Le Grand and Diana Mesa, founders of TOWT, a French seafaring company, envisioned transporting goods globally solely by wind power and sail, as was done for centuries, but with modern logistical standards and efficiency. Their vision captivated Belco, a French coffee importer, who early invested in building a state-of-the-art cargo vessel. Fast forward to 2023, Racafé got a call from Belco to be part of the inaugural return voyage of the Anemos from Santa Marta, Colombia, to its home port in Le Havre in France, loaded for the first time with hundreds of tons of premium Colombian coffee.

As we celebrate the dawn of a new coffee year, and the Anemos midway to its destination, we'd like to share this story of innovation, ingenuity, and collaboration that represents the collective nature of the coffee industry.

Ángel Barrera is Belco's Managing Director in Colombia. This Salvadoran-born trader, after years in France where he connected with Belco's founders, now oversees their Colombian operations from Armenia, Quindío. From this historical coffee region, Ángel directs the sourcing and import of top-quality Colombian green coffee beans to Europe, championing quality, traceability, and transparency. Aware of declining coffee consumption in France, largely due to younger generations viewing coffee as an environmentally harmful crop, Belco has committed to providing sustainable solutions. A long-standing partnership with Racafé, established on meeting their highest quality and traceability standards, made us the natural choice for supplying most of the high-quality green beans when the TOWT project finally set sail, not without delays.

"It's a long-standing relationship of many years," Ángel Barrera said. "Racafé consistently meets our quality demands, but this project's real test was logistical – and Racafé rose to the challenge with remarkable adaptability and excellence.". Indeed, the Anemos, far from a conventional cargo ship, presented unique hurdles in bean packaging, storage, and maintaining freight integrity.

Andrea Baquero, Racafé's Operations Director, embraced the challenge head-on. "This is exactly the kind of challenge we like." Unlike typical container shipments to ports like Buenaventura, this venture, shipping from a tertiary port farther than usual, could have easily become impractical and expensive. "We believe the more complex the project, the more value we can add. We were determined to make it happen efficiently from the outset, using our robust infrastructure and know-how" Baquero added.

The first hurdle was determining the optimal packing method. Leveraging our milling facilities in Neiva and Popayán, teams from both companies conducted extensive tests. Many details like pallet storage posed significant operational challenges for everyone involved. "Not everyone can do it, even the slightest change is a challenge, and Racafé's response was excellent," Barrera noted. "We were initially planning to ship in March, but, not depending on us, the vessel construction was delayed to July, then August. That's another financial pressure on our partners," he added.

Baquero sees this project as a chance to break down barriers and shift paradigms. "We faced numerous challenges – skepticism towards new methods, differing protocols among authorities, operational agents and international policies, concerns over quality assurance, etc." Working in direct communication with Belco, Racafé took the lead in coordinating with port and national authorities, proposing Santa Marta as a friendlier departure point, and leveraging our hard-earned reputation to overcome obstacles. "We imagined and executed this operation with unwavering focus on safety and efficiency," Baquero emphasized when asked about the commitment of Racafé to the project.

As a certified OEA (Authorized Economic Operator), Racafé's credibility was crucial in addressing safety and procedural questions from authorities and port agents. Barrera acknowledged this, stating, "With Racafé on board, many people felt that the project was legitimate, especially with local authorities."

The viability of shipping coffee, cacao, and other perishables by sail looks promising. This innovative transport method offers significant environmental benefits: a 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional shipping, elimination of noise pollution, and no risk of fuel spills. It aligns perfectly with Belco's ambitious goal to transport 50% of their coffee imports by sail by 2027. As Anemos completes its return voyage to Le Havre in the coming weeks, we hope it marks the beginning of a new wind-powered era in shipping. And with Belco planning multiple sail-powered shipments annually, we are ready to keep improving and sharing what we have learned.

Racafé's involvement in this project goes beyond mere logistics. It represents our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the coffee industry. Baquero reflects, "At Racafé, we're dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in coffee logistics. This project showcases our ability to handle complex operations and aligns with our vision for a more sustainable coffee industry."

The collaboration between TOWT and Belco, of which Racafé was honored to be part, demonstrates the power of partnership in achieving far-reaching goals. As the Anemos sails towards France with its cargo of Colombian specialty coffee, it carries with it the efforts of all those involved in this groundbreaking venture.

Looking to the future, Racafé remains committed to exploring new ways to combine logistical expertise with sustainable practices. "We're proud to be at the forefront of innovative and environmentally sound ideas," Baquero concludes. "As we move forward, we'll continue to seek out opportunities that allow us to deliver Colombian coffee worldwide while contributing to a cleaner, greener planet."

This pioneering project showcases Racafé's operational excellence while setting a new standard for sustainable practices in the coffee industry with many lessons learned. Each nautical mile the Anemos covers brings us closer to a future where the journey of our coffee is powered by the refreshing force of the wind.

Are you ready to sail into the future of coffee with us? At Racafé, we thrive on challenges and innovation. Whether you're looking to revolutionize your supply chain, enhance sustainability, or scour the land to find the right beans for your coffee business.

Challenge us with your boldest ideas, and let's collaborate to create solutions that not only meet your needs but exceed your expectations. Contact Racafé today, and let's embark on a journey of innovation, sustainability, and great sourcing service.