Day 3 done! Today, we explored the beautiful and impressive Cafe Britt! After listening, it was obvious that this is a very touristy place that many do spend their money on. In my opinion, I believe that is the case due to 3 important factors: presentation, experience, and convenience. They don’t just sell coffee, they sell Costa Rica. Their colorful packaging, many locations, and amazing marketing could definitely make anyone feel like they’re bringing a piece of the country back home. While coffee is very respected and bought a lot, I believe that the chocolate-covered fruits (especially the guava and pineapple ones) fly off the shelves the fastest. Being that I was tempted to scoop the whole bowl of them and eat them myself is a key factor in that thought!
In the coffee supply chain, Britt plays a very important role. While they don’t grow the beans, they actually source beans, roast them, and then handle the branding, packaging, and sales. This is different from Doka, which is more focused on the growing and processing of beans. Cafe Britt’s financial success is largely driven by strategic planning, which is evident in almost every aspect of their operation. I have never seen a company have its hands in so many different aspects of the business world. One of the first things that stands out is the location strategy. They place their stores and machines in high-traffic areas like airports, popular tourist spots, and resorts. Even today at our dance class there was a Britt Coffee Machine! I also thought that in the Q&A every question that involved a possible negative aspect was answered with such a strong answer that was very genuine. I just feel as if Cafe Britt has gone above and beyond when it comes to planning.
While Cafe Britt’s approach is largely successful, one area where I would tweak their strategy is in sustainability. Tourists are increasingly looking for brands that show environmental responsibility and ethical sourcing. While Cafe Britt does showcase Costa Rican pride, they could take it a step further by focusing on environmentally friendly packaging. I know it was touched on today that doing that would decrease the coffee quality, but I feel that in the future, a possible change could be made. I’d work on finding more eco-friendly bags for their coffee products first!
NOW onto the highlight of my day! Dance Lessons!! Salsa lessons to be exact! I found it so interesting that Salsa was founded in the States! Look at us go! Burned some calories, watched Prof Teeter cook up on the dance floor, and walked away with a forever memory with my new built-in Plus3 Bestfriends! Check out the most vibrant sunset I have ever seen!
