The Food Economy
Exploring the future of food
The Food Economy podcast explores food's future, systems and market trends, with expert insights from the food industry.
More about The Food Economy
This podcast delves into the future of food and consumer goods, covering supply chain, technology, sustainability, agriculture, retail and consumer behaviours across food categories. Featuring global experts, this series unveils stories behind the food we love and its future.
Season One focuses on coffee. Through The Coffee Chronicles we explore the trends, innovations and personalities of the coffee industry.
Hosted by leaders from our Consumer Industry practice, The Food Economy is brought to you by Deloitte Switzerland.
Season One: The Coffee Chronicles
#4 – OpTEAmism during taxing times – Adrian Steiner, Thermoplan (part two)
Since August 2025, Swiss products imported into the United States have been subject to a tariff of 39 per cent. This new tax places the Swiss export industry under significant cost pressure.
Thermoplan, a Swiss manufacturer of professional coffee machines, is one of the affected companies. At the same time, the firm presents an exemplary case of diversification by expanding into a new market.
In the second of two episodes with CEO Adrian Steiner, he explains the impact of the current US tariff on Thermoplan’s business and he tells the story of their new partnership with the Chinese teahouse chain Chagee.
#3 – Turning crises into opportunities – Adrian Steiner, Thermoplan (part one)
“We call this the Thermoplan family: creating new ideas together and finding solutions for opportunities and sometimes also challenges. That’s the core of my business. In the end, it’s all about the people,” says Adrian Steiner , CEO of Thermoplan.
Thermoplan is a Swiss manufacturer of professional coffee machines supplying Starbucks and other key players in the industry. The company is renowned for its agility and innovation, especially when confronted with challenges or crises.
In the first of two episodes, Adrian shares the story how Thermoplan became Starbucks’ exclusive supplier of coffee machines and his strategy to diversify their customer base when he became CEO during the 2008 financial crisis.
#2 – A coffee merchant, not a trader – Nicolas A. Tamari, Sucafina
“As a merchant, we innovate. Through the innovative projects and work we do, we are able to bring the whole coffee supply chain forward. It’s important for coffee to keep evolving over time.” says Nicolas A. Tamari, CEO of Sucafina.
The supply chain of coffee is complex and fragmented. It involves growers, traders, merchants, and many other stakeholders. But what distinguishes a coffee trader from a merchant? And what value do each add to the other participants in the supply chain?
In this episode, Nicolas answers these questions and explains why the cure for the high price of coffee is… the high coffee price itself!
#1 – A coffee market without coffee? – Raphael Studer, Algrano
“In the coffee industry, we were not concerned about supply. Coffee was there, but it’s not anymore,” says Raphael Studer, CEO and co-founder of the direct-sourcing platform Algrano.
Indeed, the coffee market is currently in an unprecedented state: record-high prices, rising demand, unreliable harvests, and significant shipment delays. These issues affect all stakeholders in the supply chain – from the farmer who grows green coffee to the end consumer who enjoys a cup in the morning.
In this episode, Raphael explains the developments that have led to this market situation and discusses how roasters can effectively manage these challenges.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Deloitte on specific topics. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Deloitte does not endorse or take responsibility for any third-party content that may be referenced in the podcast. Deloitte is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information shared in this podcast, nor for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this information.
