Colgate Grads Start Unique Coffee, Tea Business

RFH 2010, Colgate News

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

Can buying a cup of coffee help erdicate poverty here and in far away lands?

Colgate grads John Chaklader ('03) and Michael Tringali ('04) think so. Their Shapna Project has as its goal to "eradicate poverty one village at a time at home and abroad" using sustainable practices in the sale of tea and coffee.

The two affable young entrepreurs rolled out their coffee and tea at Colgate's Barge Canal Coffee Company Thursday. The Barge will add it to is list of available coffees and teas and sell both to take home and brew.

But in addition to selling coffee, Chaklader and Tringali plan to use a portion of their proceeds to improve the lives of those who grow their coffees and people here in Hamilton. In fact, 40 percent of net profits will be divided between people in Uganda (where the coffee is grown), Bangladesh (where the tea is grown) and Hamilton.

The project is an equity-based model that sells tea grown in Bangladesh and coffee grown in Uganda by farmers who have partnered with Shapna in hopes of improving their economic status.

"Twenty percent gets reinvested into the villages that are growing the produce, and twenty percent gets reinvested into the communities in which it's consumed," said Chaklader, Shapna's CEO.

Details of local donations are still being sorted out, said Chaklader.

The two thanked Barge Manager Judy Schenk for her support not just for Thursday's event, but also for encouraging their enterprise. They say she also inspired them to create the donations to the community in which Shapna will be consumed.

But, more than importing tea and coffee, Shapna is also encouraging environmentally sound and sustainable growing and processing practices.

Aside from being available at the Barge, a group of students are encouraging the university to serve Shapa coffee and team in the dining halls.