About us

March 1985

Henry’s Papa (HP) starts work as the Scottish Sales manager at Matthew Algie in Glasgow. Matthew Algie is the largest independent coffee roaster in the UK. There are 5 members of the sales team in 1985. Hugh Tollan, Tom Cardwell, Charlie Gemmell, Bill Thompson and Hamish Ross.

March 1985

July 1985

Whitbread acquires Costa

July 1985

October 1996

HP visits Seattle and Portland on a Matthew Algie coffee education tour. HP is utterly astonished to find how popular coffee is with Seattleites. They carry coffee to go cups everywhere. They even get into lifts towing luggage and carrying a cup of coffee!

October 1996

May 1998

Starbucks opens in the UK
May 1998

September 1998

Tinderbox Espresso Emporium opens in Byres Road Glasgow. Tinderbox is a collaboration between David Williamson and Carlo Ventisei. Tinderbox really sets the bar for cutting edge coffee shops and attracts attention from the retailing community all over the UK.
September 1998

April 2004

HP visits Honduras and picks a coffee cherry from a coffee bush on a coffee plantation!
April 2004

November 2005

HP joins Brodie Melrose Drysdale (Brodies) as Sales Director. Brodies are coffee roasters based in Edinburgh. The business has just been sold to Segafredo Zanetti, one of the worlds largest coffee companies. There are 4 members of the sales team in 2005. Steve Hills, Sam Mathieson, Ian Hannah and Neil Archer.
November 2005

October 2014

Henry is born in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Henry weighs in at 9lbs 3 oz. His mum is called Laura, his dad is called Brian, his aunty is called Jill and his granny is called Margaret. Henry’s Papa is also called Brian.

October 2014

July 2015

Henry’s Coffee Company (HCC) is born in a residential garage in Falkirk. HCC sets out on a mission. To have fun, to be loved, to be outstanding and to be profitable.
July 2015

September 2015

We (finally) make our first ever sale to our first ever customer. Sorocha’s in ‘Cow Wynd’, Falkirk (sadly no longer with us). Sorocha is the Gaelic word for Sarah. We will never forget you Sarah and thank you for being our first ever customer.

September 2015

January 2017

Customer Number 50 – Now we’ve got a bit of momentum. Fintry Sports Club joins our growing business as our fiftieth customer. We kick things off with a coffee training session for the sports club staff on a Sunday evening.
January 2017

June 2018

Customer Number 100 – Fantoosh Nook, in Milngavie, heralded by ‘Trip Advisor’ as the top reviewed restaurant in Milngave joins our growing business as customer number 100. With grateful thanks to Emma who used Henry’s Coffee Company at another customer and recommended us to Andre the owner at Fantoosh Nook.

June 2018

June 2018

Our first ever ‘Creative Coffee’ customer, Ben Ledi Coffee Company Callander. The coffee shop is themed around ‘Peaky Blinders’ the popular TV series. Our creative design team came up with ‘Perky Blenders’ for their very own coffee brand. To this day still the most admired of our creative coffee brands.
June 2018

January 2020

Hip Hip Hooray, Henry’s Aunty Jill joins the business. Jill helps with our deliveries and begins to make new friends with our customers. Jill enjoys her new role and we enjoy the benefits of our growing workforce.

January 2020

February 2020

If ever there was a business built on the power of hard work and wonderful customer service, our first ever Bean Box customer, The Fuel House, Alloa is that business. With grateful thanks to Jacek for choosing our eco-friendly packaging style and for all the Bean Boxes we have delivered, collected and refilled since.

February 2020

March 2020

Covid strikes! In a bid to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus (to save lives) the Scottish Government introduce restrictions that force all our hospitality customers to shut up shop. Henry’s Coffee Company grinds to a halt and we begin hibernating.
March 2020

December 2020

Sweet news indeed we begin trading with customer number 200 – There’s a wonderful back story that proved to be our introduction to Zoe the owner of Sweetpea Café in Broughty Ferry. The story spans generations and involves great gardening friends. You just have to ask.

December 2020

March 2021

A new beginning in our efforts to tell the story of Henry’s Coffee Company. Our new website is launched with grateful thanks to Luke and the team at ‘Done Your Way’. It’s because of them you’re reading this!

March 2021

HENRY'S HELPERS

Here’s a wee shout out to the local businesses that helped us build our website. Their services come highly recommended.