Sam's Club tests Andina owner's coffee

Arkansas Business, June 6, 2005 by Gwen Moritz

Eduardo Gomez, whose Andina Cafe and Coffee Rostery was a pioneer in Little Rock's River Market, has taken another leap of faith. Gomez Estate Coffee LLC is test-marketing coffee products in the Sam's Club stores in Little Rock and North Little Rock.

If the test, which began in mid-April, is successful, Gomez said the bulk coffee sales will be expanded to other Sam's stores regionally and nationally.

Like the coffees served at Andina and sold to individual and restaurant customers, the bulk coffees being sold at Sam's Club are roasted on 18th Street in Little Rock, near Central High School, Gomez said. A two-and-a-half-pound package of Andina house blend retails for $14.86 at Sam's, compared with the $13.26 price tag for a single pound at the store.

The packaging was designed by Chris Minshall, according to Gomez. The displays currently in the Sam's stores were designed by John Rogers and built by Gary Cunningham.

Gomez described Gomez Estate Coffees as family-grown coffees from all over the world. "We're a microbrewery of coffee," he said.

While Gomez works on making his coffee a national brand, the cafe he opened in the River Market eight years ago is enjoying a 50 percent increase in business since the Clinton Presidential Library opened in November. A travel article on the library that appeared in the Fredericksburg, Va., Free Lance-Star in March raved about Andina's chicken salad sandwich on black bread.

"Awesome. Really. You know it when you find real food, exciting food, food prepared by people with The Gift," columnist Paul Sullivan wrote.