Veneziano Coffee Roasters

Brewing Excellence, Culture, and Community

Providing the Local Flavor with the Perfect Cup of Coffee Every Time

Twenty-five years ago, two coffee enthusiasts set out to bring specialty coffee to the heart of Melbourne. What began as a modest operation in a shed with three staff roasting just 200 kilos of beans a week has since grown into one of Australia’s most recognized coffee roasters. Today, Veneziano Coffee Roasters, part of the Nomad Coffee Group, employs more than 180 people, roasts up to 150 tons weekly, and generates annual turnover in excess of $100 million.

For co-founder Craig Dickson, the company’s trajectory reflects both passion and perseverance. Alongside his business partner, Rocky Veneziano, a former barista, Dickson built a brand that has become synonymous with innovation, sustainability, and a people-first culture. From dominating the Australian Barista Championships to achieving B Corp certification, Veneziano’s story is as much about community and culture as it is about coffee.

From Shed to Specialty

The early days of Veneziano Coffee Roasters were humble but full of ambition. With a small team and limited resources, the founders focused on quality above all else. Their commitment quickly paid off when Veneziano became a force in competitive coffee, winning the Australian Barista Championship multiple times and competing on the world stage. These achievements elevated the company’s profile and established its credibility among coffee professionals and consumers alike.

“Those competitions weren’t just about recognition,” Dickson recalls. “They pushed us to innovate, to refine our processes, and to stay ahead of trends. It set the foundation for how we approach coffee today.”

Scaling Up: A New Era of Growth

Fast forward two decades, and Veneziano Coffee Roasters is a powerhouse in the industry. A major milestone came with the construction of a $12 million manufacturing plant in Treganna, designed to meet growing demand and streamline production. This state-of-the-art facility underscores the company’s commitment to scaling sustainably while maintaining quality.

With weekly roasting volumes now reaching 150 tons and a turnover exceeding $100 million, Veneziano has firmly established itself as one of Australia’s largest and most influential coffee roasters. Yet, despite this growth, the company has worked hard to maintain its original values of integrity, innovation, and community spirit.

Achieving B Corp Certification

One of the company’s proudest achievements is its B Corp certification, a rigorous process that measures social and environmental performance. For Dickson, certification validated what the company had long prioritized: treating people well, building strong supply chain relationships, and embedding sustainability into its operations.

The certification process required Veneziano to take a hard look at its business practices. It led to improvements in areas ranging from governance and supply chain ethics to staff engagement and community impact. “B Corp gave us a framework to measure what we were already striving to do,” Dickson explains. “It holds us accountable and ensures we keep improving.”

The company also earned recognition as a Great Place to Work, further affirming its people-first approach.

Governance and Staff Engagement

To support continuous improvement, Veneziano uses tools like Sedex for supply chain governance and Culture Amp for staff engagement. Sedex helps ensure transparency and protection against risks such as modern slavery, while Culture Amp tracks employee sentiment and highlights areas for development.

The company produces an annual modern slavery report and runs quarterly staff engagement surveys to stay aligned with its values. These measures reflect a balance between small-business warmth and corporate governance rigor.

“We want to keep that family-style culture where people feel connected,” Dickson says, “but we also need the structure and discipline of a corporate organization to keep growing responsibly.”

Coffee Trends and Consumer Shifts

The specialty coffee industry has evolved significantly since Veneziano’s early days, and the company has remained at the forefront of these changes. Dickson points to a broad “upgrading” trend, with consumers increasingly seeking out higher-quality coffee in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

Traceability and sustainability are also top priorities, with specialty roasters offering greater transparency through direct relationships with farmers. This resonates strongly with consumers who want to know where their coffee comes from and how it’s produced.

Other shifts include the rising popularity of cold beverages, alternative milks, and coffee substitutes, all of which Veneziano is incorporating into its offerings. “We see these trends as opportunities,” Dickson notes. “They allow us to broaden our product range and reach new customers.”

Innovation Through Competition and Global Insights

Innovation remains at the heart of Veneziano Coffee Roasters. The company continues to stay ahead of industry trends through its deep involvement in the World Barista Championships, where it has three certified judges. This involvement provides early exposure to new techniques, equipment, and flavor profiles that often shape global coffee trends.

In addition, the company maintains a strong international presence by attending major trade shows and visiting coffee origins around the world. By engaging with the American and Asian markets, Veneziano is able to anticipate shifts before they reach Australian shores.

Community Partnerships and Social Responsibility

Beyond coffee, Veneziano is committed to making a positive social impact. The company supports All Things Equal, a Melbourne café that trains young people with disabilities in hospitality. Veneziano sponsors the café with coffee supply and provides free training, helping create inclusive opportunities in the industry.

Employees also volunteer with Oz Harvest, an organization dedicated to reducing food waste and feeding vulnerable communities. Veneziano teams regularly participate in cooking meals for homeless people, fostering a culture of service that extends beyond the workplace.

Each state office identifies its own local community projects, ensuring that social responsibility is not centralized but embedded across the company. To coordinate these efforts, Veneziano employs a full-time sustainability manager.

Future Goals and Growth Strategies

Looking ahead, Veneziano Coffee Roasters is focused on expanding its reach both domestically and internationally. One key initiative is the company’s growing direct-to-consumer online business, which surged after COVID-19 as more people began brewing specialty coffee at home. A partnership with Breville has further strengthened this channel by integrating 

Veneziano’s coffee with Breville’s home coffee machines.

The company is also entering mainstream retail through a partnership with Woolworths Metro stores, providing greater access to specialty coffee in everyday settings. “We see Woolworths as a key partner for reaching a broader audience while maintaining our quality and brand integrity,” Dickson explains.

International expansion is also on the horizon. With expertise across specialty coffee, mainstream coffee, and private-label production, Veneziano is well-positioned to explore global markets in Asia and beyond.

As Veneziano Coffee Roasters scales, maintaining its culture remains a top priority. Dickson and Veneziano continue to lead the business, ensuring that the company’s family roots are preserved even as it becomes a corporate-sized organization.

This balance of agility and governance allows Veneziano to stay nimble, seize opportunities, and avoid the bureaucracy that often slows larger businesses. “We never want to lose that small-business mentality,” Dickson emphasizes. “It’s what keeps us creative, connected, and true to who we are.”

A Journey of Passion and Purpose

Reflecting on the company’s 25-year journey, Dickson takes pride in how far Veneziano Coffee Roasters has come. From a shed in Melbourne to becoming one of Australia’s largest roasters, the business is a remarkable success story. But for Dickson, success is about more than size or revenue.

“It’s about the impact we have—on our people, on our farmers, on our communities,” he says. “Coffee is what we make, but purpose is what drives us.”

With ambitious plans for growth, a strong culture of innovation, and a deep commitment to social and environmental responsibility, Veneziano Coffee Roasters is not just roasting coffee—it’s brewing a better future, one cup at a time.

At a Glance

Who: Veneziano Coffee Roasters

What: Popular and growing coffee establishment with a dedication to the customers it serves

Where: Richmond, Victoria, Australia

Website: www.venezianocoffee.com.au

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