Jackson, MS — Mississippi-based coffee roaster Southern Coffee Services is expanding its operations in Lexington. The project is a $2-million corporate investment and will create 55 jobs.
“Southern Coffee Services is a homegrown Mississippi company that takes pride in its products, its community and providing job opportunities for the residents of Holmes County. I commend the Southern Coffee team for strengthening its roots in Lexington and look forward to the company’s continued success in our state,” Gov. Phil Bryant said.
Southern Coffee Services is expanding into a facility in Holmes County that will enable future growth, as well as the development and training of its workforce. The new location will serve as the company’s roasting and distribution center. Southern Coffee Services’ original facility has been converted to its online roastery, which packs ground coffee and single-serve cups for website and grocery sales.
“We are honored to serve the people of Lexington and Holmes county. ‘Serving Y’all’ is a foundational tenet of Southern Coffee Service. This tenet drives us to develop sustainable businesses focused on restoring and strengthening the local communities in which we serve,” said Chuck Lovorn, CEO of Southern Coffee Services. “Establishing a world-class coffee roaster seated in the heart of Holmes County is a great and sustainable business model that will provide jobs and opportunities for generations. We want this to be a place where people can thrive and careers can begin.
“We are training/hiring for supply chain, production, distribution, customer service, marketing, accounting, service, sales and more. That is why we are working with local agencies to help people develop the skills necessary that will shape the future of Southern Coffee and the city of Lexington. With the launch of our home delivery service, we give people all over the United States the ability to participate in what we are doing here in our local community of Lexington. People are able to support our efforts to develop a future for Holmes County by having coffee delivered right to their front door. We are always looking for ways to allow others to engage in what we are doing and spread our ‘Serving Y’all’ philosophy.”
The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for building improvements. The city of Lexington is providing assistance for a public access road.
“Mississippi is a state brimming with entrepreneurial spirit, providing a supportive environment that enables Southern Coffee Services to fulfill its goals while creating quality careers for the people of Lexington and the surrounding communities,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. “We are proud to support this Mississippi-made company as it expands in our state, and we salute the teamwork of Lexington Mayor Robin McCrory and the Lexington Board of Aldermen, which, along with MDA, was instrumental in bringing Southern Coffee Services’s expansion to fruition.”
Southern Coffee Services currently employs 14 workers in Lexington with plans to add 55 jobs over the next three years. The expansion is slated to be complete in January 2020.
About Chenoa Coffee Company
Formerly known as Lexington Coffee Company, which operated as a non-profit organization, Chenoa Coffee Company (d.b.a. Southern Coffee Services) was formed as a for-profit organization in February 2018. Southern Coffee Services, which produces and distributes coffee products and services in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Louisiana. Southern Coffee Services operates in the Direct to Store channel, Foodservice channel through our distribution partners, hospitality and convenience store markets as well as retail channels such as Rouses, Vowells and Corner Markets across the state of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
Southern Coffee is available online at www.freshsoutherncoffee.com and a monthly Home delivery service is available.
About Mississippi Development Authority
Mississippi Development Authority is the state’s lead economic and community development agency. MDA focuses on new business recruitment, existing business expansion, workforce training, and tourism promotion. For more information, visit MDA’s website at mississippi.org.
