Metropolis Coffee Company appoints Anne Djerai as chief executive officer
Image: Metropolis Coffee Company
Metropolis Coffee Co (Metropolis), a Chicago headquartered, family-owned business that roasts, packs, and serves ethically-sourced craft coffee around the world – is pleased to announce the promotion of Anne Djerai to chief executive officer of the beloved coffee roastery and company.
In just three years, Djerai has helped Metropolis grow its portfolio of clientele as well spearhead its innovative offerings like the company’s co-packing capabilities, and most recently positioning the company to lead the U.S. coffee capsule market by being the first coffee company to produce compostable co-packer pods compatible with Nespresso original in the U.S.
“I’m honoured to be named the CEO of an established, family-owned company like Metropolis. Our reputation has set the bar in the coffee industry and brand has stood the test of time,” says Djerai. “I am proud of how we have navigated the business during the pandemic and happily stand alongside ownership as we continue to grow our brand and innovative products. I couldn’t imagine a better place to be everyday or a better group of people to lead.”
Djerai is no stranger to the coffee industry, as she not only worked her way up in past roles at Metropolis that include strategic partnership manager, to vice president of sales and operations and then executive vice president but held former positions as a regional sales executive at John Conti Coffee; a senior sales manager at Tradecraft Coffee and Tea Outfitters/Canteen; and a regional sales director at Ronnoco Coffee.
“Anne has been a key player in helping take Metropolis to the next level when it comes to brand innovation and growth,” says Tony Dreyfuss, co-founder and president of Metropolis Coffee Company. “And as we embark on this exciting new chapter of debuting compostable capsules in the U.S., we know Metropolis’ legacy will continue to prosper and thrive under her enthusiastic and strategic leadership.”
Earlier this year, Metropolis announced that the company has invested more than $1million into its packaging and filling technology, making them the first compostable co-packers, compatible with Nespresso Original Brewers, in the United States. Through its roasting, grinding, and packing technology, Metropolis can pack up to 300,000 capsules per day, and more than 90 million capsules annually.
Djerai was a key part of this new investment for Metropolis, as she, alongside ownership helped to create and foster a partnership with Sonder Holdings Inc. (Sonder) – a leading next-generation hospitality company that is redefining the guest experience through technology and design – to source the expertise of Smile Beverage Werks to develop both home compostable and BPI certified packaging for coffee capsules which will accompany all of Sonder’s guest-facing units before the end of the year. Metropolis’ partnership with Sonder will bring Metropolis Coffee to Europe, the Middle East, Canada, and Mexico starting this year.
Under Djerai’s leadership, Metropolis has already started selling its capsules wholesale, in-store and online in a variety of flavours. By Q2 of 2023, the company plans to have up to 15 product flavours in its capsule portfolio, a capsule subscription program, and a capsule machine partner, so customers have a one-stop-shop experience.
For more information about Metropolis Coffee Company, please visit www.metropoliscoffee.com.