Coffee with purpose

How do you care for Country and community while also empowering First Nations entrepreneurialism?

Proud Gooreng Gooreng woman Tomika Johnson and her partner Cory Reeve have found a way.

And it involves the simple act of helping workers at the start of their busy day enjoy a morning coffee, and is built on the relationships between First Nations peoples and their Country.

Every day, Waddi Group, roasts and packages coffee beans at their Meanjin (Brisbane) base and distributes them to workplaces across Australia.

Established in 2015, the company is a majority Indigenous owned and operated spring water, specialty coffee and hospitality services company.

The business is also a social enterprise. Waddi aims to encourage First Nations entrepreneurialism, by breaking down the disparity many Indigenous businesses experience when entering the market.

This includes supplying jobs to the Indigenous community by employing First Nations people in the production, logistics and distribution process. But also, fostering economic growth in First Nations communities through investing with other Indigenous businesses and suppliers.

For Tomika – who was raised with a firm sense of caring for Country and the environment – it was important to make sure the company’s products carried that philosophy.

The business has recently taken on a contract to supply ANZ nationally – its biggest deal yet.

Automatic Coffee Machines have been rolled out in all ANZ Australia offices, and feature the artwork of Indigenous artist, Luke Penrith a proud Wiradjuri, Wotjobaluk, Yuin and Gumbaynggirr Nations man.

Every year, ANZ employees consume more than 5,000 kilos of coffee. That’s an elephant worth of coffee beans.

Tomika says the continued support of First Nations businesses is vital to create value and shared purpose within Indigenous communities.

{image1}

L to R: Simon Nash (ANZ: ESG Manager - Procurement), Shelley Cable (ANZ: Head of First Nations Strategy), Tomika Johnson (Founding director and Co-owner of Indigenous Beverages Australia) and Cory Reeve (Founding director and Co-owner of Indigenous Beverages Australia).

“Generational underemployment is an issue within Indigenous communities. At Waddi, we believe that if we can collaboratively come together by utilising the products and services of Indigenous business we can move forward together collectively and make an impact,” she said.  

There is a lot of support for Tomika’s views.

As Shelley Cable, Head of First Nations Strategy, Australia, recently pointed out, the First Nations economy in Australia is a growing force.

This sector contributed around $16 billion to Australia’s gross domestic product in 2022 and is growing well above the national growth rate.

Former Pricewaterhouse Coopers Indigenous Consulting chief, Jodie Sizer says business ownership in an effective way to achieve financial independence for families and communities. 

“A robust and sustainable Indigenous economy is essential for self-determination, independent communities and 'closing the gap'. More Indigenous people than ever are seeking to achieve economic independence by contributing to the economy through the establishment of Indigenous businesses,” Sizer has said.

As part of Waddi’s commitment to giving back, the company sponsors several not-for-profit organisations, including Indigenous Women in Mining Resources Australia, Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining Energy and Exploration (AEMEE), The WattleNest Athlete Empowerment & the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation.

Simon Nash is an Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) Expert within Group Procurement at ANZ