Leelanau Espresso in Glen Arbor, Michigan. All photographs courtesy of Schuil Espresso.

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Schuil Espresso Firm has acquired Northern Michigan roaster-retailer Leelanau Espresso Roasting Co., uniting two of the state’s longest-running specialty espresso manufacturers. 

The acquisition consists of Leelanau’s Glen Arbor cafe and the corporate’s roasting facility in Maple Metropolis.

Schuil Espresso Proprietor Tim Volkema advised Day by day Espresso Information that Schuil employed all 25 of Leelanau’s current workers, bringing the mixed firm — which incorporates the Sparrows Espresso and Joven Espresso manufacturers — to about 80 workers. 

Monetary phrases of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. 

The Schuil Espresso headquarters in Grand Rapids.

“It’s unusual to discover a firm that operates in the same market section, that’s geographically shut and is open to creating an possession transition,” Volkema advised Day by day Espresso Information. “These elements lined up, so we went for it, regardless of the challenges our trade faces.” 

Volkema stated discussions with Leelanau homeowners Steve and John Arens have been ongoing for a number of years, turning into extra critical over the previous 12 months. Past the geographic and native market overlap, Volkema stated Schuil and Leelanau even have some pure overlap of their espresso sourcing via shared importer connections.

On the Schuil Espresso roastery.

“Each have been in specialty espresso for over three a long time, with sturdy heritage,” Volkema stated. “Each manufacturers meet espresso drinkers the place they’re and purpose to offer scrumptious specialty espresso at a powerful worth.”

Leelanau Espresso Roasting Co. has been working in Glen Arbor since 1993, serving as a vacation spot for locals and vacationers close to the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Almost 10 years in the past, the corporate expanded its roasting facility with two Sivetz-made fluid-bed roasting machines. Volkema stated the corporate plans to take care of fashionable Leelanau choices whereas exploring a packaging and web site refresh inside a 12 months. 

In an announcement shared by Schuil, the Arens brothers described promoting a enterprise “you’ve spent 30 years constructing” as a “massive deal,” however stated Schuil felt like a “good match.” 

“Tim and his group share our values of product excellence and customer support,” stated Steve and John Arens. “We’re assured that Leelanau Espresso is in nice arms and can proceed to be a staple of Northern Michigan for years to return.”

A Sparrows Espresso location.

Schuil Espresso, which was based in 1981 and bought by Volkema in 2017, continues to roast in Grand Rapids, with two Diedrich manufacturing roasters supporting the Schuil, Sparrows and Joven manufacturers. 

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