The TriBeCa Coffee story is not as much a tale as it is an adventure that has lasted more than two decades. Dale Mazon arrived in South Africa in 1996, a trained Barista with a Business Degree and a keen desire to start his own business – which he did in Pretoria Central for a while, until he met Martin Fitzgerald in 1997. Martin, having experimented in the coffee and restaurant business whilst working as an Accountant by day had expansive ideas of his own and so the adventure began.

The two young entrepreneurs would go on to create a small group of unique and diverse coffee houses and one of the most successful coffee roasteries in the country. In a relentless drive to succeed, it always takes hard work, vision, and purpose. Martin and Dale embodied these qualities.

The coffee roastery began in 2002 in Bloubokkie Street, Koedoespoort in a 180m² space, a 17 kg Sivetz Roaster and a some of the most entrepreneurial minds and dedicated collaborators who believed that we were at the heart of a unique journey. Martin had always expressed an interest in exploring coffee, I am not sure that he knew at the time how intricate and exploratory the idea would become.

With an enormous amount of hard work and a little bit of luck they shaped what is now known as TriBeCa Coffee Co. If we were to give you a visual timeline of the past, you would see our Directors – Martin and Dale – roasting coffee, packing boxes, loading, and off-loading at destination; whatever it took to create and cultivate this unique brand, nothing has changed. That same fundamental group of colleagues are still together, driving the business forward.

In 2015 Ernst Penzhorn, who has always had a guiding influence on the team, stepped into the ring as CEO and mentor, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight.  Our Gandalf if you will!

Inspiration and Innovation is what has kept TriBeCa at the forefront of the coffee industry, our factories are streamlined and uncluttered, equipped with the most advanced coffee roasters, process innovation, training programs, quality assurance labs and skilled individuals that share in common objectives.

In 2009 Martin and Dale embarked on their bid to summit Mount Kilimanjaro a feat they accomplished in honour of the farmers who supply our coffee. Our roots with Tanzania and its people run deep as does our commitment to internal diversity, our global community impact and sustainable relationships with our farmers, vendors, staff, and clients which have allowed us to grow into the business we are today.

Martin and Dale have inspired a team of totally committed and knowledgeable people, who would die in a ditch before this adventure is deemed to be complete.