Time Line
1969: The Bozano, Simonsen and Gafisa groups form the Condomínio Aliança and purchase their first farm, São Joaquim, with 230 hectares, in the city of Alfenas, in the south of the State of Minas Gerais.
1st PHASE: implantation from 1970 to 1986
1970: The name of the company is changed to IPANEMA AGROINDÚSTRIA S.A.
1972: Beginning of the process of purchase of land and planting of coffee and citrus trees. The Campo Verde, Conquista, Vitória and Capoeirinha estates are purchased, with a total area of 7,000 hectares.
1979: Beginning of investments in the construction of infrastructure for the processing and milling of coffee, considered to be one of the largest in the world.
1986: The first phase of implantation of Ipanema Coffees is concluded, with a total planted area of 3,000 hectares of citrus trees and 3,000 hectares in coffee.
2nd PHASE: establishment of commercial structure from 1987 to 1990
1987: The company begins investing in the adaptation of its infrastructure for the washing and drying of coffee, enabling the production of washed (wet-processed) and pulped natural coffees.
1988: The company increases its participation in local citrus markets by establishing distribution centers in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.
1989: The company begins to export raw fruit to the European market.
1990: The company signs a contract for the export of concentrated fruit juice to the US market by means of a tolling system operated by third parties
3rd PHASE: exports from 1991 to 2006
1991: Ipanema delivers its first export contract to Tchibo, the leading roaster on the German market; Ipanema becomes a founder member, with 11 other coffee-producing companies, of the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association – BSCA.
1992: As part of its brand formation strategy, Ipanema introduces the concept of labels, coffees from a single origin with the Ipanema guarantee: Ouro Preto, Gourmet, Bourbon and Conquista.
1993: Barnies, a US coffee shop chain, releases their "Taste of Brazil" packaging using the label Ipanema Conquista, as the Brazilian representative in their range of specialty coffees.
1994: Ipanema defines its mission as concentrating exclusively on coffee. In order to support this process, the company starts to renew some parts its plantations, by planting more than two million coffee trees.
1995: While commemorating 25 years of existence, the company inaugurates a roasting plant and launches the Fazenda de Minas roast and ground coffee label on the Brazilian market. Ipanema launches the concept of pure origin blends, comprising different types of preparation under the labels Ipanema Espresso and Ipanema Dulce.
1996: Danish company "Estate Coffee" introduces the Ipanema Dulce label on the Scandinavian market, as the Brazilian representative in their range of specialty coffees.
1997: Coca-Cola of Japan launches a ready-to-drink product in cans for the Japanese market under the brand name "Ipanema Blend - Signature Georgia". This is the first time that a brand of canned coffee is linked with the name of its supplier.
1998: Ipanema Coffees signs an exclusive worldwide supply contract for Ipanema Bourbon with the largest retail coffee chain in the world, Starbucks.
1999: As part of its differentiation strategy, the company introduces the concept of Ipanema Coffees, one company, many flavors, in recognition of its varied portfolio of products and blends.
2000: Ipanema Coffees signs a supply agreement for Ipanema Dulce with the second largest French supermarket chain, Intermarché.
2001: Ipanema opens its first coffee shop in São Paulo under the name Cafeera, focused exclusively on sales of specialty coffee.
A lot of Icatu Amarelo, produced at the Fazenda Capoeirinha, is one of the winners of the Cafés do Brasil Quality Contest.
The Seijo-Ishii chain, in partnership with the Mitsubishi Corporation, launches the Specially Selected Brazil Ipanema packaging on the Japanese market, directed towards the consumers of gourmet products.
In commemoration of a 10-year relationship, German roaster Tchibo launches its Brazil Ipanema packaging within the highly exclusive Privat Kaffee product line, under the brand name Ipanema Ouro Preto.
2002: Ipanema Coffees purchases Fazenda Rio Verde, with more than 100 years of tradition and an area greater than 1,750 hectares.
Audited by SGS do Brasil, Ipanema Coffees is the first Brazilian company to receive environmental certification in accordance with the Utz Kapeh Codes of Conduct.
Ipanema Coffees receives the “Voluntários das Gerais” award, for Best Volunteer Project in the State of Minas Gerais.
2003: Ipanema Coffees is the first South American company to be certified as compliant with the Code of Conduct of the Preferred Supplier Program instituted by Starbucks.
Ipanema Coffees again receives the “Voluntários das Gerais” award, for best project for encouragement of volunteering in the State of Minas Gerais for the year 2003.
2004: Ipanema Coffees receives the International Sustainability Award, conferred by the Specialty Coffee Association of America – SCAA.
Ipanema Coffees is certified by Rainforest Alliance, thus becoming the largest supplier of certified coffee in the world.
2005: Ipanema Coffees receives the Assis Chateaubriand Award for Social Responsibility, conferred by Alterosa TV and Unifenas, for its Education in Action Program.
A sample from Ipanema Coffees is selected as one of the ten best in a cupping contest organized by Rainforest Alliance, announced during the annual convention of the SCAA, in Seattle, USA.
2006: Ipanema Coffees is selected as one of the finalists in the Assis Chateaubriand Award for Social Responsibility, conferred by Alterosa TV and Unifenas, for its Reading Circle Project.
The Gávea Investimentos and Astro/Lambari groups purchase the shareholding of Cia. Bozano and, with Bilux, draw up a strategic plan for the participation of Ipanema Coffees in the world market for specialty coffee.
The Ipanema Espresso Blend is launched in Greece at more than 150 points of sale, comprising restaurants and coffee shops, and rapidly becomes a local favorite.
4th PHASE: internationalization 2007 to ...
2007: Tchibo, the largest German roaster, launches its Brasil Pérola packaging of coffee certified by Rainforest Alliance, 100% supplied by Ipanema Coffees.
Ipanema Coffees launches five new labels in its range of specialty coffees: Ipanema Icatu Amarelo (Natural), Ipanema Catuaí Amarelo (Pulped Natural), Rio Verde Eden (Natural) and the very exclusive Ipanema Special Reserve.
Brazil Ipanema Bourbon is relaunched with an intense marketing campaign by the Starbucks chain in the USA. During more than 60 days, Ipanema acts as host of the US company’s webpage.
2008: Kaffeehuset Friele, the largest roaster in Scandinavia, purchases the shares of the Gávea group and becomes one of the shareholders of Ipanema.
Ipanema reaches the impressive mark of one million bags exported directly from the farm and commemorates with its clients by introducing the Taste of the Million Trophy.
Ipanema launches the Coffee Solution Provider concept, as part of a new differentiation strategy of supplying services for the preparation of special blends.
2009: Ipanema receives the Bunge award for the highest coffee yields in Brazil.
Ipanema receives the “Outstanding Producer” award from the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe.
Ipanema qualifies as best Brazilian coffee and as one of the seven best in the world in the Quality Contest organized by Rainforest Alliance.
2010: Ipanema launches NiMA, a green coffee packaging system that uses controlled atmosphere to maintain freshness.
Ipanema again qualifies as best Brazilian coffee and as one of the four best in the world in the Quality Contest organized by Rainforest Alliance.
2011: The coffees from Ipanema are classified as finalist between the best coffes of the VIII Minas Gerais Coffee Quality Championship (EMATER) and Cup of Excellence.
Ipanema is certified in the AAA Ecolaboration program, becoming a Nespresso certified supplier of specialty coffees in accordance with all their strictly quality rules and sustainable production.
2012: Tchibo GmbH, the biggest coffee roaster in Germany and one of the biggest traders in the coffee market and Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the biggest companies in the world, with a strong presence in the food market, become Ipanema shareholders. Both of them will share the management of the company with the current ones, being ML, Paraguaçu and Friele.
Ipanema proudly announces a new certification that will benefits its workers and expand its businesses in the coffee market. In August, it was concluded an auditing process and Ipanema was SCS – Fair Trade USA certified.
In 2012, Ipanema made business in new regions not yet explored by the company. It was made business with Bulgaria, in Eastern Europe and Marroco and Egypt, in Afica. In addition, It was created new partnerships with England and Italy. In the total, Ipanema has now direct presense in 27 countries.
