VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS BREWING EXCELLENCE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY WWW.VENEZIANOCOFFEE.COM.AU & WWW.NOMADCOFFEEGROUP.COM.AU
BREWING EXCEL CULTURE, AND C VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS AT A GLANCE VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS WHAT: P opular and growing coffee establishment with a dedication to the customers it serves WHERE: Richmond, Victoria, Australia WEBSITE: www.venezianocoffee.com.au & www.nomadcoffeegroup.com.au 1 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09
LLENCE, COMMUNITY 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, Veneziano Coffee Roasters has since grown to become the founding brand of one of Australia’s most recognized coffee companies. Today, Veneziano operates as the specialty arm of the Nomad Coffee Group (NCG). NCG is a diverse portfolio of coffee PROVIDING THE LOCAL FLAVOR WITH THE PERFECT CUP OF COFFEE EVERY TIME 2 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09
brands across Australia and New Zealand, each with a unique offering and audience. NCG now 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 the original Veneziano brand that has become synonymous with innovation, sustainability, and a people-first culture, values that now inform the entire NCG. 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, setting the foundation for NCG’s broader mission. 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, Nomad Coffee Group was established and is a powerhouse in the industry. A major milestone came with the construction of a $12 million manufacturing plant in Truganina, 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 tonness and a turnover exceeding $100 million, Nomad Coffee Group has firmly established itself 3 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09 VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS
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 born from Veneziano. 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 NCG 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, NCG 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 4 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09
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 NCG 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 and flows through to all other NCG brands. The company continues to stay ahead of industry 5 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09 VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS
Key players since 1945: amazing years of innovation and customized technology for the food industry. #Brambati80yearsyoung TAILOR-MADE TECHNOLOGY, DRIVEN BY INNOVATION Discover Brambati’s experience and continuous research in complete installations for coffee processing. BRAMBATI S.p.A—via Strada Nuova, 37 27050 Codevilla (PV) ITALY tel: +39 0383 373100 | www.brambati.it | info@brambati.it ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN COFFEE PROCESSING With over 80 years of experience, this year, we proudly celebrates our 80th anniversary—a milestone that reflects decades of innovation, dedication, and excellence in engineering, Brambati S.p.A. stands as a global leader in the design and manufacture of cuttingedge systems for the coffee industry. Based in Codevilla, Italy, the company has become a trusted partner for major coffee producers worldwide, offering fully integrated, tailormade solutions that cover the entire production cycle—from green coffee intake to packaging. Brambati’s coffee processing systems are engineered for precision, efficiency, and sustainability. The company provides advanced technologies for green coffee cleaning, storage, weighing, and blending, as well as state-of-the-art roasting systems— both traditional and modular—with full control over temperature profiles and energy consumption. Its grinding solutions ensure consistent particle size distribution, essential for quality and flavor, while degassing and packaging systems preserve freshness and aroma. What sets Brambati apart is its in-house development of automation and control software, allowing seamless integration and real-time monitoring of every stage of production. Whether for small specialty roasters or large industrial plants, Brambati delivers scalable solutions that meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and innovation. Driven by a passion for coffee and a commitment to excellence, Brambati continues to shape the future of coffee processing—one bean at a time.
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, NCG is able to anticipate shifts before they reach Australian shores. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Beyond coffee, Nomad Coffee Group 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. Under the Veneziano brand, the company 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 7 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09 VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS
and feeding vulnerable communities. NCG 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, NCG employs a full-time sustainability manager. FUTURE GOALS AND GROWTH STRATEGIES Looking ahead, NCG is focused on expanding its reach both domestically and internationally. One key initiative is the company’s growing Veneziano’s 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 Veneziano and Woolworths Metro stores, providing greater access to specialty coffee in everyday settings. “We see 8 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09
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, NCG is well-positioned to explore global markets in Asia and beyond. As NCG 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 NCG 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. 9 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09 VENEZIANO COFFEE ROASTERS
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Brambati S.p.A. www.brambati.it Brambati S.p.A., celebrating 80 years of innovation, engineers complete food processing systems. For coffee industries can supply the entire process, from green bean intake to packaging feeding. Renowned for precision, sustainability, and in-house automation, Brambati serves global coffee leaders with Italian-made solutions that blend tradition and technology—delivering excellence across every stage of the coffee production journey. “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, Nomad Coffee Group is not just roasting coffee—it’s brewing a better future, one cup at a time. 10 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09
WWW.VENEZIANOCOFFEE.COM.AU & WWW.NOMADCOFFEEGROUP.COM.AU WWW.BUSINESSVIEWOCEANIA.COM AS FEATURED IN BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA Veneziano Coffee Roasters
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