Café William opens new factory with 100 per cent electric industrial roaster

Coffee company Café William opens a new energy-efficient factory in Sherbrooke, Que., where it operates one of the world’s first 100 per cent electric industrial roasters.

Café William is achieving a milestone with this new factory. Of the initial $47 million investment, $19 million is allocated toward implementing energy-efficient technologies.

Rémi Tremblay, CEO of Café William, said, “This accomplishment underscores our dedication to innovation and industry excellence. Operating Canada’s first electric industrial roaster fills us with immense pride. Earlier this year, our successful demonstration of coffee transportation via cargo sailboat showcased our commitment to sustainability. Today, we mark yet another sustainable initiative in our supply chain aimed at reducing the ecological impact of our coffee.”

Partners who made this project possible include Investissement Québec, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), National Bank of Canada, Fondaction, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Neuhaus Neotec, Gératek and the City of Sherbrooke. The Quebec government also granted a $9 million loan under the ESSOR program to support the plant’s implementation. This program is managed by Investissement Québec. On behalf of the Government of Canada, a repayable contribution of $2.5 million has also been granted by CED.

The electric industrial roaster, which was has been operational since January 2024, has an annual roasting capacity of up to 20 million lb of coffee. It was manufactured by Neuhaus Neotec.

As a result of the electric industrial roaster, Café William anticipates an annual reduction of approximately 800 tonnes of equivalent CO₂ emissions.