Bridgehead Coffee

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Bridgehead Coffee sent by mail
Bridgehead Coffee sent by mail

Contents

Originally founded in 1981 in Toronto by Oxfam, Bridgehead is a small fair trade coffeehouse chain which now has seven outlets in Ottawa, Canada. Called one of the “pioneers of fair trade in Canada” by TransFair Canada [1], Bridgehead has quickly become a magnet for speciality coffee drinkers since its rebirth in 2000. In addition to coffee (including the usual assortment of espressos, cappuccinos, etc.) and organic teas, it sells snacks, including organic cookies and brownies, as well as soups and salads made by its own "Kitchen Crew." [2] Wifi is available at most, if not all, locations [3]. According to TransFair Canada, an eighth Ottawa location is expected soon, and - having consolidated its market in its home base - Bridgehead plans to return to Toronto, and expand to other major Canadian cities, notably Vancouver on the Pacific Coast [4]. In November 2006, Bridgehead was again voted Ottawa’s “Best Coffee/Tea House” by readers of Ottawa Xpress, a widely-read lifestyle weekly [5]. Bridgehead's popularity outside Ottawa has reached the point where one can now mail-order coffee from them [6].

[edit] Bridgehead in the coffeehouse tradition

A Bridgehead Coffeehouse in downtown Ottawa in January
A Bridgehead Coffeehouse in downtown Ottawa in January

More established outlets have become local landmarks, with various community groups using Bridgehead locations as meeting or rallying points [7], placing Bridgehead firmly in the tradition of coffeehouses as public spaces for political and cultural activities. Bridgehead has a devoted following, which has grown far beyond its original base of “fair trade” and organic food advocates. Living up to its name, Bridgehead has in fact helped turn fair trade coffee mainstream, by making regulars who first came simply for the quality aware of the broader issues of coffee production [8].

[edit] Bridgehead, Fair Trade, and Corporate Social Repsonsibility

Bridgehead’s steady expansion from one outlet in 2000 [9] to seven in 2006 [10] came after a dormant period which followed its original launch over two decades ago. The original Bridgehead, although founded by Oxfam to promote “fair trade” goods, was not originally focused on coffee [11]. Part of what makes Bridgehead noteworthy is that its history provides a cautionary note on the need for profits and sound management in business ventures built around socially responsible values. A profile of Bridgehead’s post-Oxfam management in the Ottawa Citizen was tellingly headlined "Bridgehead bounces back: Sticking to your ethics can work as long as the business plan is based on more than good intentions."[12] That article claimed that Oxfam Canada's Bridgehead ultimately failed in the mid-1990s due in part a “lack of sound business practices.” [13]. After the original Bridgehead closed, the current management, headed by Tracey Clark, bought the original Bridgehead Trading Company in 2000, including its trademarks and customer lists for $30,000. Clark originally relied on financing from family and friends, but by 2002, Bridgehead was owned by 30 investors [14].

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Fair Trade Echoes," TransFair Canada (2006), v.1, n.1, p.3 [1].
  2. ^ www.bridgehead.ca [2]
  3. ^ See, e.g., reports at http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/47849 [3], and http://anchorfree.com/13637-free-wi-fi-Bridgehead+Coffee-Ottawa-ON-CAN.htm [4]
  4. ^ "Fair Trade Echoes," TransFair Canada (2006), v.1, n.1, p.3 [5].
  5. ^ Ottawa Xpress, 23 November 2006 (The annual "Best of Ottawa" issue)[6]
  6. ^ See "Shop Online" at the Bridgehead website [7]
  7. ^ See, e.g., weekly listings in the Ottawa Xpress [8], and similar online community announcement websites, which often includes announements for meetings at a Bridgehead, such as the “Ottawa Freecycle Monthly Meetup,” [9]
  8. ^ For one personal account, see, e.g., Ken Gildner, 13 Oct 2006, “Morning Coffee #4: Bridgehead” [10], dated 13 October 2006.
  9. ^ Cook, Gay (2000) “Bridgehead Offers Coffee with a Difference” in Ottawa Citizen (July 12, 2000)
  10. ^ www.bridgehead.com [11]
  11. ^ "Fair Trade Echoes," TransFair Canada (2006), v.1, n.1, p.3 [12]. See also the discussion of "Handcrafts vs. agricultural goods" in Fair Trade.
  12. ^ Chianello, Joanne (2002) “Bridgehead bounces back: Sticking to your ethics can work as long as the business plan is based on more than good intentions” in Ottawa Citizen [13] (May 4, 2002), p.H1, H4.
  13. ^ Chianello, 2002:H1
  14. ^ Chianello, 2002:H4

[edit] External link

Bridgehead official website [14]

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