This is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today, we hear from Elissa Colpitts of Picadilly Coffee Roasters in Sussex.

MY INTEREST IN COFFEE STEMS BACK TO MY DAYS OF STUDYING GEOGRAPHY IN UNIVERSITY. I REMEMBER LEARNING HOW COFFEE WAS AND STILL IS THE SECOND-HIGHEST TRADED COMMODITY IN THE WORLD. THAT PIQUED MY INTEREST IN ALL THINGS COFFEE; HOW IT’S GROWN, HOW IT’S PROCESSED, HOW IT’S ROASTED, THE ETHICS SURROUNDING IT, ETC. I FOUND IT ALL SO FASCINATING!

For years I would daydream about starting my own roastery but the realities of being submerged in my career and starting a family kept me from pursuing that dream. A few years ago, at a crossroads with my job, I decided that the timing was right to give it a go. I started small but the demand grew quickly. It didn’t take long for word to spread and we’ve been so fortunate to experience steady growth since those early days.

This past year has definitely reinforced the importance of supporting local for us and our community as well. Sussex is a wonderful community that has always proudly supported local businesses but we have really noticed an overwhelming uptake in people making a conscious effort to ensure their dollars stay close to home.

One cool thing we’ve noticed is how local businesses have really banded together, partnered in new ways, switched to local suppliers or have used cross-marketing strategies, and more. There is a lot of innovation and resiliency here, something you tend to notice in small communities that have a history of taking care of themselves and their neighbours.

A new customer recently described her visit to us as rediscovering her community, and I think that perfectly describes what a lot of us have felt over the last year. Supporting local businesses has a real impact because you are helping your community to thrive! The list is long but to name a few: you are supporting job creation, you are supporting a business that donates to local causes, you are reducing your environmental impact and you are investing in your community’s future!