IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Sharing Solutions: How local approaches enable global success

Setting sail for the coffee business of tomorrow: On course to the first ERP rollout for NGUS

Depicting NKG’s growth in Asia: Insights from Mira Yudhawati and Emily Chua

Smart design for a sustainable future: The Ibero Uganda mill project

Behind the scenes

Mail from NG Comms: A personal Update

Virtual Tour: Berindo Jaya

Faces and portraits

Interview with Thomas Silva

Interview with Marcelo de Paula Nogueira

On a Cupping with Maks Mazurkiewicz

A visit with Kayd Whalen

NKG Integrity Champion: Thumbs up for reliable colleagues

NKG Holding who is who: Introducing Legal Department

Breaking the coffee ceiling: Inspiring women at NKG

Out of the box

Three by Three Questions: EUDR challenges and implementation

Time to take action: Neumann Gruppe donates to the promotion of democracy

At a glance

Recap: What happened in half-year one / 2024

It's your turn

Quiz: Spot the Difference

THE HUMAN TOUCH

Interview with

Alexandre Ferraz & Nicolaus Fallmeier

THE HUMAN TOUCH

Interview with

Alexandre Ferraz & Nicolaus Fallmeier

Alexandre Ferraz & Nicolaus Fallmeier

Flor do café + xande
2019-03-28 10.50.16_3463 Monte Santo de Minas

New faces well known

 

When Alexandre Ferraz came to Hamburg for a trainee program at IAC and BR in 2010, one of his aims was to use the time for an intensive German course. Nicolaus Fallmeier, who studied in Brazil in 2006 and wanted to practice his Portuguese, was very pleased to hear of the Brazilian colleague – and so they first got to know each other. After several (sometimes funny) occasions, where they were able to work together in the past, they now have the possibility to train both languages in the long run: Alexandre Ferraz just arrived in Hamburg to start a new challenge as Senior Trader at BR, while Nicolaus Fallmeier will start a new position as Coach at NG. We kindly asked them to answer us some questions about both of them and their connection through NKG.

Alexandre Ferraz

When was your first visit to Germany and why did you go there?
July 26th 2009. I went to Hamburg to visit IAC and BR for a short trainee program at the quality department and to visit a few roasters.
What did you like most about it?
It was my first time in Europe so I was impressed about how organized Germany is and also the fact that the days last longer than in Brazil, until almost 10 pm (summer time 😊).
What are you looking forward to most living and working in Hamburg?
Hamburg will be the biggest city I have ever lived in so far, so I believe that there will be a lot of new culture to discover. Learning a new language and to be at the other side of the coffee business also excites me.
When and how did you first meet Nico?
In July 2010, during my vacation at Stockler, I went to Hamburg for a 4 weeks trainee program at IAC and BR and for an intensive German course. My intensions were to try to avoid Portuguese, and Nico heard that a Brazilian was in the office and wanted to practice his Portuguese.
Do you remember any special experience you share with Nico?

In 2014, we had the idea to organize the Força Café Coffee Championship supported by HRNS. At that time, we could not imagine how important this project would became and it is already at its 8th edition.

What do you wish him for his new challenge?
Lots of success. I believe he is capable of handling this new challenge and he will do his best in the new position!

Nicolaus Fallmeier

When was your first visit to Brazil and why did you go there?
In 2006 for two semesters of study in Sao Paulo
What did you like most about it?
The city of Sao Paulo is fascinating in many ways and getting to know it by bike and public transport was great.
What do you miss about living in Brazil?
Weekends at the beach that felt like week-long vacation during my time in Santos for Stockler.
When and how did you first meet Alexandre?
In 2010 in the quality lab of InterAmerican: he was already studying German and I was eager to learn about Café do Brasil.
Do you remember any special experience you share with Alexandre?
We once took very dedicated care of one of our dear customers and when the three of us meet, we keep laughing about that occasion.
What do you wish him for his time in Germany?

That, together with his wife, they can start enjoying Hamburg as their new hometown as soon as possible! I know his curiosity and expect him to know Hamburg better than myself quite soon. I will count on his recommendations.

What do you think Alexandre is looking forward to most when coming to Germany?
Apart from the new job, I guess he is really eager to practice German. Also, experiencing the ease of freely moving around at any time of the day. As he loves travelling, I expect him to be around Europe pretty often.
General Information

NAME

José Alexandre Lordi Ferraz

DATE OF BIRTH

August 04th 1986

COMPANY

in transition from NKG Stockler to BR

CITY AND COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE

Hamburg, Germany

POSITION/DEPARTMENT

Senior Trader

DATE OF FIRST DAY AT NKG

February, 2008

  • favorite food: Feijoada (my mother’s if possible) (Brazilian dish)
  • Vacation: Europe’s countryside
  • Places: “Roça” (That is the way we call farm)
  • A social Project
  • activities: Ride horses, bikes.

NAME

Nicolaus Fallmeier

DATE OF BIRTH
January 12th 1983

COMPANY

in transition from BR to NGHH

CITY AND COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE

Hamburg, Germany

POSITION/DEPARTMENT

Senior Trader

DATE OF FIRST DAY AT NKG

July, 2010

  • HSV (german soccer club from Hamburg)
  • Hamburger Kunsthalle (art gallery)
  • Wes Anderson movies
  • the concept of circular economy
  • thai cuisine

Alexandre Ferraz

What was your first job related to coffee?

Alexandre Ferraz

My father is a little coffee farmer, so I can say that I started my coffee career/passion at his farm.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

If you want to call it a job, that was roasting a tiny coffee lot in Coatepec, Mexico at my host family’s micro-roastery at the age of 16.

How do you relax best after a busy day at work?

Alexandre Ferraz

I like to go home, take a shower and relax watching TV or reading a book.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

I go hunting which includes conservation through active work in the outdoors, say constructing a bird hut to protect partridge and pheasants against birds of prey. Or simply sit on a high stand for hours enjoying the manifold wildlife – and occasionally hunt my steak. The meat has been a success with colleagues as well.

What book are you currently reading?

Alexandre Ferraz

Becoming from Michelle Obama

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. (I should actually suggest this one to John Mason who had recommended two great novels by John Williams some years ago, I hope he reads this.)

What is the most beautiful place you have ever been to?

Alexandre Ferraz

It is difficult to mention only one beautiful place, but a very special one is Riparbella in Tuscany, Italy. This is the city that one of my great grandparents was born.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Palenque, Maya ruins in Mexico.

What would you do if you won one million in the lottery?

Alexandre Ferraz

I believe that I would invest the money and with the income I would continue to travel and discover new places. I would also contribute more to a social project I have with some friends.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Invest it above all in my brother’s start-up, a digital trading platform for agricultural commodities.

What are you most grateful for in your life?

Alexandre Ferraz

For the parents I have and for all the efforts they have made to provide me the best that life could offer under their circumstances.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

That joyful and pleasant moments are far outpacing the sad and complicated ones.

Nicolaus Fallmeier

2018-03-18 15.27.25 _0312 - SDM Muzambinho region
What is your strangest/best/worst Covid-19-habit (if it has affected your daily life)?

Alexandre Ferraz

Strangest – touchless (Brazilians like to touch/ hug/ handing shake).

Best – Take off my shoes before entering the house (I had this habit before Covid-19).

Worst – wear masks most of the time.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

It has affected everyone’s life, I presume. In my case, the increased home office allowed to enjoy family life much more than before.

What should your fridge never be without? Any Covid-Updates on that?

Alexandre Ferraz

Meat and cheese. When the first news about Covid came and nobody knew what could happen, I bought a few salamis and cheeses for my possible lockdown season.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Mustard.

How do you make your coffee at home (Capsules, pads, filter, bean-to-cup coffee machine)?

Alexandre Ferraz

Fresh ground and filtered. This is the best way to enjoy a good coffee even before drinking it.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

French press.

How did you first discover your passion for coffee?

Alexandre Ferraz

I grew up on a little coffee farm. I remember when I was a kid, my winter holidays (June/July) were always at my family’s farm and this was during the harvest period. So, I started to develop my passion for coffee even when I did not know what was the reason to be there during my free time.
I planted a coffee tree when I was 7 years old.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

When perceiving coffee as a raw product and plant during my school exchange year in Mexico.

How long have you been working for NKG and in which positions?

Alexandre Ferraz

I have the pleasure to work for NKG for 13 years. As a trainee from 2008 to 2009 and as an employee from 2009 to 2012 in the quality department. Since the middle of 2012 I am in the trading department.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Since 2010, having been a trainee at first, getting to know the Hamburg companies, then moving to Brazil to work for Stockler – quality and then moving to the trade desk for four years. Since then, I have been responsible for the Brazil book at BR, concluding my time at BR this month and looking forward to new responsibilities at NG Hamburg.

What do you like most about working with NKG/your team?

Alexandre Ferraz

The opportunities to learn and to know new things in the coffee business that NKG provides.

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

Trust: at its core, I am managing a book based on the trust in my gained expertise, able to take decisions on my own. Of course, that only works if working with a team of professionals willing to challenge the developed strategy. At BR, like at Stockler previously, I enjoy working with the many kind and friendly colleagues across departments.

This summer, I hope I will be able to …

Alexandre Ferraz

If you mean the European summer, to be living in Germany 😊 (as Covid has imposed a few challenges to get there).

 

Nicolaus Fallmeier

successfully start my new position at NG.

Further Articles

TradeLens: Solving complex difficulties with a lean platform

Even before the Covid-19 crisis aggravated the existing problems in logistics, NKG Board of Management decided on a remarkable project: the start of the digitization of several steps of the coffee supply chain. With support from ICL (Internationale Commodity Logistik), the implementation of the platform TradeLens has been initiated. TradeLens offers the realization of transparency about where to find the coffee at each moment and enables digital document and data handling.

Read More »

Small steps towards great progress: Introducing NKG PACE

That inequality between White and Black Americans in the U.S. is still immense has been clearly demonstrated by the incidents and protests of recent months. Unfortunately, the U.S. coffee industry is no exception. The situation cannot be glossed over: Black Americans experience the largest gap in employment and decision-making roles. Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) has always acted on behalf of producers and those in the coffee supply chain most in need of attention.

Read More »

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Coffee Plaza • Am Sandtorpark 4
20457 Hamburg • Germany 

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Neumann Gruppe GmbH
Coffee Plaza
Am Sandtorpark 4
20457 Hamburg • Germany

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