Basic Profile & Business Focus

Name & Structure
Operates as Kerchanshe Trading PLC or Kerchanshe Group, a diversified conglomerate based in Ethiopia.

Headquarters & Contact
Main address is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Listed contact includes +251-11-557-1111 and info@kerchanshe.com
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History & Growth
Initially focused on coffee, founded under Mr. Israel Degefa with the vision of creating transparency and sustainability in the coffee value chain. Over time, the company diversified into multiple business units.

Scale & Workforce
Employs around 1,900 permanent staff and about 25,000 seasonal workers. Its coffee operations directly and indirectly impact over 1 million coffee growers across southern and southwestern Ethiopia.

Core Businesses / Diversification
While coffee exports remain the backbone, Kerchanshe has expanded into:

Manufacturing (e.g., household goods, stationery)

Automotive (official distributor of Geely in Ethiopia)

Construction and equipment supply

Agro-industries (meat and agriculture-related ventures)

Social and community development projects through its foundation, Buna Qela

Trade & Market Activity

The company is one of Ethiopia’s largest coffee exporters, specializing in premium Arabica beans.

Recorded hundreds of export shipments valued in the tens of millions of dollars over recent years.

Coffee (non-decaffeinated) makes up the vast majority of its exports.

Imports machinery, packaging materials (such as jute bags), and related inputs for its operations.

Quality, Sustainability & Social Responsibility

Strong emphasis on traceability and fairness within the coffee supply chain.

Runs the Buna Qela Foundation, which supports projects in clean water, schools, clinics, roads, and farmer training.

Actively promotes women’s empowerment and farmer certification programs.

Operates under a quality policy built on three pillars: customer, farmer, and environment.

Certifications & Recognition

Promotes international quality standards and certification-level practices in its coffee exports.

Recognized as a leader in Ethiopian coffee exports and a fast-growing diversified business group.

Challenges & Risks

Heavy reliance on coffee makes the company vulnerable to global price fluctuations and climate-related risks.

Dependence on imports for packaging and machinery can expose it to currency instability and import regulations.

Managing a vast farmer network and maintaining consistent quality and certification compliance is operationally demanding.

Diversification into industries like automotive and construction requires sustained investment and competition with global players.