As the specialty coffee market grows, Matthew Algie strengthened its leadership by certifying two senior team members as Q Graders in 2025. Estelle MacGilp, Head of Coffee Sourcing, and Gosia Lendzioszek, Account Development Manager, earned the rigorous certification, enhancing the company’s ability to guarantee coffee quality. The certification, awarded by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), requires passing over 20 exams in sensory and technical skills, a rare feat in Scotland.]
Matthew Algie’s Estelle MacGilp and Gosia Lendzioszek achieved Q Grader certification, bolstering expertise in coffee quality assurance and sourcing leadership.
The Q Grader benefits include sharpened skills in evaluating beans, which directly supports Matthew Algie’s quality assurance processes. This expertise allows the company to maintain strict standards internally, avoiding reliance on external graders—a challenge many competitors face.
The certifications align with Matthew Algie’s focus on ethical sourcing and premium products. Its leadership team includes sustainability manager Amy Oroko and coffee sourcing head MacGilp, who guarantees supply chain ethics. The company’s strategic leadership structure, featuring experts like Roslyn Coombe in marketing and Steve Ditch in technical services, further reinforces its operational excellence across UK markets.
With over 300 employees, the company blends diverse roles—from retail marketing to asset management—to propel growth. Holding two Q Graders at senior levels sets it apart in an industry where rivals often struggle to recruit even one certified professional.
Investing in staff development has been key. Matthew Algie prioritizes training existing talent rather than competing for scarce certified hires. MacGilp and Lendzioszek’s certifications reflect this strategy, enhancing both innovation and product development.
Leaders believe this approach drives customer trust, as buyers increasingly demand sustainably sourced, high-quality coffee.
Market differentiation is another outcome. The company brands itself as an ethical roaster and equipment supplier, with Q Grader expertise reinforcing its specialty coffee credentials.
Competitors lacking similar certifications may find it harder to match Matthew Algie’s reputation for consistency and craftsmanship. Recent leadership appointments, like Managing Director Thomas Heinen in 2025, signal a continued push to utilize this edge.
