Exhibiting at Melbourne International COFFEE EXPO (MICE) 2025

Southland Merchants is a specialty coffee importer based in Adelaide, Australia, with a strong focus on ethically sourced green coffee beans from Brazil. The company plays a vital role in the Australian specialty coffee supply chain by offering traceable, sustainable, and high-quality green coffee to roasters across the country.

Company Background

Founded by a team with deep roots in both Brazilian coffee farming and Australian coffee culture, Southland Merchants was established to bridge the gap between smallholder producers in Brazil and specialty coffee roasters in Australia. Leveraging direct relationships with producers and transparency in trade practices, the company supports quality-driven sourcing while contributing to socio-economic development in rural Brazil.

Core Business

Southland Merchants specializes in the importation and distribution of specialty-grade green coffee beans from Brazil. The company works with more than 25 farms and cooperatives, focusing on sustainability, direct trade, and full traceability. The beans are warehoused in Australia and offered to roasters through spot purchase and forward contracting.

Product and Service Offerings

• Specialty Green Coffee Beans:

  • Single-origin micro-lots
  • Regional blends with distinct flavor profiles
  • Experimental and processing innovation lots (e.g., natural, pulped natural, anaerobic fermentation)

• Sourcing Models:

  • Spot Purchases: Immediate availability from Australian warehouses
  • Forward Purchases: Pre-shipment commitment with future delivery and price lock-in

• Logistics and Support:

  • Custom logistics coordination
  • Import compliance and warehousing
  • Sample roasting and cupping services

• Producer Engagement:

  • Direct trade relationships with transparent payment structures
  • Investment in post-harvest infrastructure and training for farming communities

Specialization and Core USP

Southland Merchants’ unique value lies in its exclusive sourcing relationships in Brazil, one of the world’s most competitive and quality-diverse coffee origins. Unlike commodity-oriented traders, Southland Merchants emphasizes farm-level traceability, sustainable pricing, and processing innovation, ensuring buyers receive both quality and ethical value.

The company’s founders have lived experience in both Brazilian farming and Australian roasting, allowing them to translate producer challenges and buyer expectations effectively.

Financials and Business Scale

While private and not disclosing revenue publicly, Southland Merchants has consistently grown its presence in Australia’s specialty coffee sector. According to industry feedback and volume data from import platforms, the company handles over 200 metric tonnes of green coffee per year, with clients ranging from boutique roasters to national coffee brands.

The company has established strategic warehousing partnerships in Australia, enabling faster fulfillment and lower shipping costs for local buyers.

Shipment Data

Import data from platforms like Volza and ImportYeti confirm Southland Merchants as a regular importer of green coffee from Brazil to Australia. In the past 12 months, the company has completed over 50 container-level shipments, primarily from Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo regions.

Beans are shipped in grain-protection liners and stored under quality-controlled environments before local distribution.

Target Market

• Specialty Coffee Roasters
• Boutique Cafés with In-house Roasting
• Coffee Subscription Businesses
• Wholesale Coffee Distributors
• Educational and Training Institutions in Coffee

Southland’s offerings cater to both premium roasters seeking micro-lots and volume buyers needing consistent, quality blends.

Capabilities

• On-ground sourcing network in Brazil
• Real-time lot tracking and documentation
• In-house cupping and quality control
• Climate-controlled warehousing in Australia
• Flexible logistics and volume agreements
• Support for marketing storytelling and origin education

The company also helps roasters connect directly with farmers, enabling co-branding opportunities and farm-level storytelling for end consumers.

Certifications and Compliance

• All imports comply with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and DAFF regulations
• Partnerships with Rainforest Alliance and UTZ-certified farms (where applicable)
• Support for transparency protocols and social premiums
• Full compliance with green bean storage and transport standards

Customer Testimonials

Australian roasters frequently endorse Southland for quality and service:

“We’ve sourced directly from Southland for three seasons now. The traceability, quality, and flavor diversity in their Brazilian coffees are unmatched.” – Specialty Roaster, Melbourne

“Their support in coordinating forward contracts and managing our logistics has been a game-changer for our supply chain.” – Coffee Director, Sydney

Major Achievements

• Introduced over 20 micro-lot producers to the Australian market
• First to import anaerobically fermented coffees from specific Brazilian regions to Australia
• Recognized at Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) for ethical sourcing
• Ongoing investment in producer training programs in post-harvest processing
• Supported women-led farms and social equity initiatives through premium-based partnerships

Southland Merchants stands as a reliable and principled bridge between Brazil’s most innovative producers and Australia’s specialty coffee scene, offering both exceptional coffees and purpose-driven partnerships.