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Coffee roasting house in Drahonice
Published on 14 March 2019
Czech Republic
JihozƔpad
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
PražĆrna kĆ”vy Drahonice (Coffee Roasting House Drahonice) was founded by Centrum Martin o.p.s. (charitable trust) in 2014 to continue their effort to establish on the social enterprise market. Since 2010 they run ceramics workshop (sheltered workshop) and experimental cafe in Prague so the coffee roasting house was the next logical step. They have extensive knowledge of running a SE in the Czech environment. Due to lack of legislation concerning social enterprises in the Czech Republic, running it is always, in a way, an experiment, many times in the form of trial-and-error. According to up-to-date evolution, it seems they partly overcame many obstacles usually stated by SEās as their biggest hindrances. Their product portfolio is pretty wide ā apart from roasting coffee it also includes a production of dried fruit, fruit and herbal concentrates for home-made drinks, fruit liqueurs and fruit biscuits and cakes. They currently employ 10 employees, 5 of them were permanently in healthcare institutions for mentally disabled before. They also cooperate with their sheltered ceramics workshop, which provides them with custom-made packaging in case customers desire so. Overall, Centrum Martin provides work for 50 people with various stages of disabilities, mostly with heavier forms of mental or combined (mental-physical) disability. It cooperates with local mental healthcare centre.
Resources needed
Total yearly turnover is around 175 000 ā¬. The company has 10 employees.
Evidence of success
This SE has a growing turnover since it has been established which means lower dependency on external funding. Ability to employ people that were formally living in a closed environment of the mental healthcare institution.
Potential for learning or transfer
The quality level of products is steady, without considerable fluctuations, which enables establishing long-term business relations. The products can be partially custom-made (special packaging, gift sets). The coffee house cooperates with associated ceramics workshop to provide even more customer-friendly final products. The cooperation between other forms of SE can also be mentioned. Together they can create a wider portfolio of products and they can be more attractive for potential customers, especially those more socially aware.
The idea is easily transferable. The advantage of CRH Drahonice is the proximity of mental institution with which CRH widely cooperates. Apart from that, an enterprise like this could be basically run at any place that has at least basic transport infrastructure.
The idea is easily transferable. The advantage of CRH Drahonice is the proximity of mental institution with which CRH widely cooperates. Apart from that, an enterprise like this could be basically run at any place that has at least basic transport infrastructure.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Regional Development Agency of South Bohemia RERA a.s.
Czech Republic
JihozƔpad
Contact
project manager