LOCAL HIRO: Republica Coffee wins BC trade award

Hiro Tsujimoto (left) and Ricardo Masana at Republica Coffee in Gasoline Alley, Fort Langley. — Photo by: Miranda Gathercole/Langley Times

It has always been Hiro Tsujimoto and Ricardo Masana’s philosophy that “sometimes the right way is not the easiest way.” For the business partners, and brothers-in-law, the “right way” means trekking through jungles with armed government escorts to find coffee plantations that are socially responsible and environmentally sustainable. It means spending hours in a windowless 700 square-foot Port Kells warehouse, blending and trying new coffee recipes. It means roasting their coffee in small batches fresh to order, and delivering it to their customers within 24 hours, despite the “logistical nightmare” that creates.
“We take great care in the roasting process. We make sure that we have a coffee that’s there for all palates. There’s just a lot of care in the products we do.”
On February 25 the pair was recognized for their hard work at the Small Business BC Awards. They won the Best International Trade award, recognizing the fair trade work they do with 54 countries around the world.
Tsujimoto and Masana plan on treating their staff with the prize money they have won with the Small Business BC Award. (From Story by Miranda Gathercole in the Langley Times.)
Congratulations Hiro and Ricardo! Republica Coffee does Fort Langley proud!

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