zebad coffee
About Founder
Emebet is the CEO and founder of ZEBAD General Export. She has 36 years of work experience in international trade and business management
We are working in partnerships with smallholder coffee farmers to supply the international markets directly. The farmers we work with are in the Southern and Western regions of Ethiopia; Sidamo, Yergacheffe, Aletawondo, Guji, Borena, Jimma, Limu and Bonga. Some of the highest grade coffee beans in the world are grown in these areas. Our work is to ensure a partnership of mutual benefit, through the sale of organic and traceable Ethiopian coffee to the world market.
Ethiopian Coffee Sector: An Interview with Emebet Tafesse of Zebad General Export and Import by MarcoPolis Country Reports
Emebet Tafesse, CEO of Zebad General Export and Import, explains what makes her coffee trading company different from the competition in Ethiopia.Ethiopian Coffee Sector: An Interview with Emebet Tafesse of Zebad General Export and Import by MarcoPolis Country Reports
INTERVIEWS4.19.2021
What are the major challenges that you face to boost your business?
Competitiveness in terms of price, in terms of quality, in terms of delivery in the global market is a major challenge. There are more than 50 countries supplying coffee to the world. There are two types of coffee: arabica and robusta. There are countries like Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia and some African countries. So, there is supply over the demand. Whenever the supply is over the demand, there is always a price pressure from the buyer because they have alternative sources. We should be competitive in the world market by improving in house management such as value chain management, efficient supply chain management, improving the policies, creating an enabling environment, and addressing the issue of the problems of export. We have about 4 million smallholder farmers who produce coffee in Ethiopia. They are just producing garden coffee. They are not big states so the productivity is very low. To bring the coffee to the washing station, to the Central Market, to regional markets, there is a heavy cost. When the coffee is reaching the Commodity Exchange or the warehouse of the farmers, the price is very high. With that price, if we purchase from others in the current market or from the Exchange or from the farmers and try to add some additional costs like processing, delivery, logistics, etc., the prices skyrocket and we cannot compete.....
Zebad General Export and Import: Discussing the Coffee Sector in Ethiopia with Emebet Tafesse
Emebet Tafesse, CEO of Zebad General Export and Import
Interview with Emebet Tafesse, CEO of Zebad General Export and Import
What are the major challenges that you face to boost your business?
Competitiveness in terms of price, in terms of quality, in terms of delivery in the global market is a major challenge. There are more than 50 countries supplying coffee to the world. There are two types of coffee: arabica and robusta. There are countries like Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia and some African countries. So, there is supply over the demand. Whenever the supply is over the demand, there is always a price pressure from the buyer because they have alternative sources. We should be competitive in the world market by improving in house management such as value chain management, efficient supply chain management, improving the policies, creating an enabling environment, and addressing the issue of the problems of export. We have about 4 million smallholder farmers who produce coffee in Ethiopia. They are just producing garden coffee. They are not big states so the productivity is very low. To bring the coffee to the washing station, to the Central Market, to regional markets, there is a heavy cost. When the coffee is reaching the Commodity Exchange or the warehouse of the farmers, the price is very high. With that price, if we purchase from others in the current market or from the Exchange or from the farmers and try to add some additional costs like processing, delivery, logistics, etc., the prices skyrocket and we cannot compete.....