"Anchored Coffee" to compete for $100,000 BDC Grand Prize for Innovation - Two if By Sea wants to launch Atlantic Canada's first direct trade roastery

HALIFAX, May 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadians can now vote online for "Anchored Coffee", the innovation project proposed by Two If By Sea Cafe, one of eight finalists competing for the $100,000 Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Grand Prize for Innovation.

In 2009, Two If By Sea opened its first cafe in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, which was soon wildly busy.  Early this year, it branched out with a second Halifax location, where business is also booming. The company's insistence on impeccable quality and its deeply-rooted community involvement are key factors in its success.

Two If By Sea wants to take those defining characteristics to the next level and launch "Anchored Coffee", the first roastery in Atlantic Canada to buy all of its coffee direct from farmers. The roastery will enable the company to control every step of the process and ensure a sustainable supply of ethically grown coffee.

"We aim to make our project a downtown community hub. We want to integrate innovations like a front-of-house coffee lab, where customers can enjoy tasting sessions, take seminars and courses, and learn more about the farmers and communities that benefit from the direct trade model," says Zane Kelsall, co-owner of Two If By Sea. "We'll also use the space to train our staff."

"I would like to congratulate Zane for bringing his project to the finals of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest," says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. "It is now up to Canadians to choose which project will come to life in the following year.  Every vote counts towards the Grand Prize!"

"Voting for Anchored Coffee will have a real impact on the lives of Atlantic consumers and farmers in Central and South America," concludes Kelsall. "Our cafes go through 40,000 pounds of coffee a year. Direct trade provides the farmer with a guaranteed minimum price per pound and a higher return for superior quality.  We also support the local economy, as well as the global community."

"All the finalists competing for the Grand Prize for Innovation have projects with a solid potential to generate growth and prosperity. The eight finalists have proven that they have ability to run a successful business and to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industries," adds Bergeron.

Voting for the 2012 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest runs from May 30 to June 19 and the general public can vote once a day. To support your favourite innovation project, log in to the dedicated microsite or vote directly on Facebook at BDC Entrepreneur.  Frequent contest updates will be posted on Facebook,  Twitter at @BDC_News and LinkedIn.  The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award winner and runner up will be announced on June 25.

About the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest
Created by the Business Development Bank of Canada in 1988, the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest pays tribute to successful Canadian entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years of age.  For the first time in 2012, the contest will see finalists competing for the BDC Grand Prize for Innovation which will award $100,000 to one young Canadian entrepreneur to carry out a specific innovation project. The Financial Post is the exclusive media partner of the BDC 2012 Young Entrepreneur Award.  The contest is sponsored by Les Affaires.

About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first.  With almost 1,900 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital and consulting services to 29,000 small and medium-sized companies.  Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity.

Maria Constantinescu
Advisor, Public Relations, BDC
514 496-7146
[email protected]