A visit with Kayd Whalen
Michelle Maisto spoke to Kayd Whalen about the latest trends among American customers.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Behind the scenes
Faces and portraits
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Behind the scenes
Faces and portraits
Interview
Interview
NAME
Agnieszka Gomulkiewicz
COMPANY
Bero Polska
POSITION/ DEPARTMENT
Office and Marketing Manager
DATE OF BIRTH
September 02
DATE OF FIRST DAY AT NKG
January 03, 2024
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WORKING AT NKG?
I really like the opportunities for professional development and: coffee, of course!
Agnieszka Gomulkiewicz: “How did your journey at Bero Polska begin?”
Maks Mazurkiewicz: “Oh, it’s a long story! It started as a side gig during my college days, helping out in the quality department. That was about 15 years ago, and that’s when I had my first real encounter with coffee. The whole scene sucked me in, and I decided to dive deeper, even picking up some experience as a barista along the way. Coffee became my passion and a way of life. Working at Bero Polska involves everything from dealing with raw materials, international trade, finance, logistics, traveling, and most importantly, connecting with fellow coffee enthusiasts! Plus, let’s not forget the joy of tasting great coffee almost every day at work.”
AG: “What was the Baltic market like 10/15 years ago when you started?”
MM: “About a decade ago, we were serving a handful of clients in the Baltic countries, who regularly bought the same commercial grades. There were a few local coffee chains dominating a significant portion of the market. The local coffee community was just starting to come together around events and industry gatherings. And our product range wasn’t as diverse as it is today.”
AG: “What influenced the changes in this market over the years?”
MM: “I’d say primarily keeping up with global trends. Consumers were becoming increasingly conscious of the need for quality and transparency. Over the decade, society became wealthier and gained access to global information through the internet and social media. This led to a demand for meeting global trends or even creating them. Our offering evolved and expanded into new qualities in response to market demand. Every client was looking for something different, what someone else didn’t have. This trend even reached origin countries, where producers started consciously producing microlots. It’s a win-win situation because the end consumer gets to enjoy exceptional and unique qualities, and producers can further develop with increased financial income.”
AG: “How does your customer from 2000 differ from the one you deal with today?”
MM: “In my opinion, it’s their awareness of their expectations and the experience they’ve gained over the years. Customers now expect discussions about sensory impressions, recommendations, and they’re very keen on making choices based on samples.”
AG: “ If you could predict the future, what will the market look like in the next dozen years, what will change, and why?”
MM: “I hope the trend continues, and society continues to develop, hence increasing the emphasis on quality. I also hope that over the coming years, we’ll remain a trusted partner for our clients – coffee roasters, whose number is growing every year. Considering the population of the Baltic countries, the number of coffee roasters is quite impressive and proportionally one of the highest in Europe.”
AG: “Lastly, tell us, what makes you love coffee? And what’s your favorite brew?”
MM: “I love coffee for its constant variability and uniqueness, and for the fact that it is a living and evolving product that can be experienced anew every day.
Despite the undeniable pleasure of trying and testing hundreds of qualities, botanical varieties, and wonderful processing methods, nice washed Ethiopia: esta me gusta. 
”
NAME
Maks Mazurkiewicz
DATE OF BIRTH
September 22
COMPANY
Bero Polska
POSITION/ DEPARTMENT
Senior Trader
DATE OF FIRST DAY AT NKG
December 10, 2009
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WORKING AT NKG?
“The team of coffee enthusiasts and the opportunity to touch and experience the goods itself. Coffee is not a single computer record, it’s a journey with an interesting story behind it.”
Michelle Maisto spoke to Kayd Whalen about the latest trends among American customers.
Congratulations to our new Integrity Champion: Chelsey Walker-Watson! Known for her kindness, integrity, empathy and dedication to her values, Chelsea has been a colleague everyone was happy to work with in her more than 10 years at Atlas Coffee Importers. Why is Chelsea the perfect Integrity Champion? Ask Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Atlas Coffee Importers and Samriti Kaushik, Head of HR, NA for Neumann Gruppe USA), or read the statements and get to know her and her commitment in the statements from more colleagues!
The Legal Department is the strategic as well as operative partner of their internal clients, namely management, employees, and colleagues from NKG companies worldwide.
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