D.R. Wakefield & Company Ltd.
 
About DRW

HISTORY

D.R. Wakefield & Company Limited was founded in January 1970 by Derrick Wakefield. His objective was to supply both specialist and regular grade coffees to the UK trade, small private roasters and large multinational companies alike, building strong relationships to understand their needs. Having met those early objectives the company has spread its wings finding clients in Australia, Europe and USA.

Having a good client base is worthless if you do not have an equally strong supply source. This has been achieved with regular trips to origin to understand how the supply chain functions down to the farm gate and to find suppliers with a similar ideology as ourselves.

Success only comes with vigilant control. To that extent we control the shipping and delivery from place of origin to the roaster door. We consistently source from the same suppliers with shipments being checked for quality prior to delivery.

Leading the way is a priority but believing in your goal is essential. DRW has been the first in our sector to import Organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees, helping to compliment our conventional business. DRW supports the coffee industry and was a founder member of both the Coffee Trade Federation (CTF) and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE).

Flexibility is becoming ever more essential in a more demanding world. DRW works to many different requirements, ranging from pre-finance for the farmer to arranging independent farm audits for the roaster. Acting as a catalyst between farmer and roaster creates an opportunity for both to meet the other’s needs as the market develops.

Coffee can be treated as purely a traded commodity, but not at DRW. Looking at a sack of coffee we see the people that harvested it, the impact it has on their lives and their surroundings before it is turned into the dark liquid we drink for pleasure.

Wakefields is an independent coffee importer, a catalyst and an enthusiast!

We look forward to being of assistance to you….

 

WHO WE ARE

Simon Wakefield Simon Wakefield (Managing Director). First set foot in a coffee plantation when he was about six years old and completed his training in Papua New Guinea firmly sealing coffee in his blood! He joined DRW in 1986 and now runs the family business.

Alok Vohora (Coffee Trader). From an East African coffee family. Has worked in various different stages of the journey a bean takes from tree to cup: Tanzanian Estate, Rwandan Mill, Kenyan Exporter, International Trade House and Roaster / Retailer. Multilingual.
Santiago Barahona Santiago Barahona (Coffee Trader). Moved from Ecuador to the UK in 2002 to complete studies in agriculture and sustainability. Work experience includes a range of agricultural development projects. Native Spanish speaker.

Adriana Uller (Logistics Controller). In charge of shipping, documents and onward deliveries to roasters.

Lynn Cranfield

Lynn Cranfield (Office Manager). Responsible for financial accounts and invoicing customers.

Elodie Gontard (Operations Director)
Derick Fredericks Derick Fredericks (Quality Controller). In charge of roasting, cupping and grading all coffees as well as general duties.