INTRO

In March 2024, we stayed in Antwerp for one night while traveling back from Paris to Hamburg. I had already spent a night there the year before and fell in love with this city. It’s lively and fresh, and people seem to enjoy themselves a lot. The density of sophisticated stores and hospitality is extremely high in Antwerp, and I love that.

We came across Andy Roasters at Amerikalei 82 and loved everything about that concept so much. The branding, the store, the interior, the friendly staff, and their product are absolutely dope. We invited them as guest roasters in our coffee shop in Hamburg, and everyone is loving it.

So I was more than happy when one of their founders, Dave, agreed to be my first-ever chat partner here. I was super curious to talk to him, learn more about his attitude, and share that with you. You can also buy Andy Roaster coffee in my shop.

All images by Andy Roasters

MY TAKEAWAYS from Dave’s travels through hospitality: from nightlife to international brand Andy Roasters.

TRUST+LET FLOW

Dave has been working in hospitality for almost forever and he always loved it. Still, after finishing university and taking on a full-time job in the industry, he reached a point where he couldn't see a future or an opportunity to build a healthy and sustainable career in hospitality. "I was working in nightclubs back then, and it was great fun and energy, but it also came with a quite unhealthy lifestyle." Instead of turning his back on the industry, getting a "real" job, and building a different career, he decided to take a few months off and went to Melbourne, Australia. Here, he had his first specialty coffee experience ever and was immediately hooked. He finally found the link between an amazing product and his love for hospitality. Dave started working in different stores and worked his way up to store manager. Things fell into place when he returned to Antwerp, started working at a roastery, and met his future partner, Jacob Priggen, who had also just returned from several years of traveling and living in Australia. They were driven by the belief that they could do something better together and with more impact in Antwerp. Eight months later, Butchers Coffee opened up.

SCALE ergo „I DON’T micromanage, I MANAGE“

Dave and Jacob took the next step by founding ANDY ROASTERS together with Kjell Maes. "With Andy Roasters, we created a brand with a product that can be scaled, unlike a coffee bar." This step also allowed Dave to grow in his leadership competencies. He got a manager on board who manages the daily business in the stores. If Dave comes across a situation he does not like in daily business, he takes notes and passes them to his manager during their bi-weekly meeting. This gives Dave the space and capacity to develop the brands and grow the business. "Making headspace and focusing on developing the brand, launching new products, and keeping the strategic focus."

BE CLEAR, develop a STRONG VISION and follow through WITHOUT COMPROMISE

"Everything in the store is or was thought of. Everything that is there is there for a reason."

Dave had a very strong and clear vision of the brand and the holistic experience. His ex-wife’s branding agency, Red Lobster, translated this vision into a strong corporate design, and Dave took care of the interior design. When opening Butchers, Dave worked most of the shifts himself and got involved in every little detail, from the interior to the art of serving everything. He told me that there is not one thing in the shop that he did not think about or that does not have a meaning, need, or purpose.

HOSPITALITY IS A REAL BUSINESS

During his time in Melbourne, Dave learned dozens of important things. One of the most important observations he made was that coffee shops were organized and structured differently than he knew from Europe: they were built more like corporations, providing their employees with visions and opportunities to develop. This gave him the chance to also see and develop his vision of a true and sustainable future in hospitality.

HAVE FUN

Dave's answer to my question about his plans for the near future is one of the most important intentions one can set: "Have fun." With ANDY ROASTERS, Dave and his partners have created a strong brand that serves as a platform for every other activity that brings them joy: various collaborations and activities from running clubs to DJ sets, fashion collaborations, and more. It is about finding art in the little everyday things. It’s always a matter of perspective.

THANK YOU GUYS for your contribution to a more fun world.