Building Better Business

Cafédirect•www.cafedirect.co.uk

We all want a healthier planet and fairer future to look forward to. Building Better Business explores how business has a huge impact - and how, as informed customers, we can become part of a positive movement for change through our consumer choice.

The podcast features straight talking conversations with global thought leaders and professionals, asking: ‘What are businesses doing to protect our future and what more can be done?’

Hosted by John Steel, CEO of popular British ethical pioneer coffee brand Cafédirect.

Last refreshed: July 27th, 2025 at 12:35 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

The ripple effect of trading directly, with Richard Hide, coffee trader

Richard has dedicated the past 30 years to connecting coffee farmers to markets that have the most impact on the communities they come from. He pioneered the UK's direct coffee trading in the early 1990s for Cafédirect. It’s taken him to remote farming communities across the globe in search of small coffee cooperatives. He’s had tremendously exciting and challenging journeys, the greatest reward being the pride farmers took in having their coffee and hard work recognized and rewarded for the fir...

Sep 01, 2021•29 min

How and why business models must change, with Bob Doherty, academic

As an academic Bob has published extensively on social enterprise business models including Cafédirect and is a trustee on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation. Before his life in academia Bob worked as Head of Sales at social enterprise, Divine Chocolate. Bob explains why the traditional pursuit of business profit is destructive and offers advice to businesses and consumers on what we can do in our daily lives to do better and make change. He explores where our food comes from and comments on ...

Aug 25, 2021•28 min

Building Better Business - Trailer

The food and drink we buy has a monumental impact on the lives of farmers and their communities throughout the globe. Each week, join John Steel, CEO of Cafédirect, the pioneering social enterprise that works in direct partnership with the farmers that grow your coffee, tea and cocoa. We’ll be exploring extraordinary tales of 30 years of doing business differently, speaking with those that believe business is more than making money and looking forward to how we all can build better business. If ...

Jul 05, 2021•1 min

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