The Orang Utan Regenwald GmbH
With the Orang Utan Coffee Project, the founders aim at initiating a process, which incorporates sustainability into all areas of coffee industry. Hence, the project implements exemplary measures to promote the conservation of tropical rainforest and to stimulate similar initiatives. The rainforest, an ecosystem of unique biodiversity, represents an important basis for human existence. The high quality of the coffee and its organic cultivation represent powerful assets for successful marketing of coffees from plantation to end consumer. With the premiums generated, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme SOCP is supported and the farmers are rewarded for their enormous efforts to comply with the strict organic production standards of Orang Utan Coffee, resulting in protection of the montane rainforest and its flora and fauna.
The Orang Utan Coffee project is a green business that embodies the first concrete implementation of the vision of the Orang-Utan Regenwald GmbH. The Orang Utan Regenwald GmbH is committed to a holistic sustainable approach and thus to social and ecological responsibility, including resource and climate protection, as well as the preservation of biodiversity.
PanEco Foundation
PanEco, the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Intercultural Exchange, was founded in Switzerland in 1996 as an international non-profit organization. The foundation’s roots go back to the 1970s, when Swiss biologist Regina Frey went to Sumatra to reintroduce illegally captured and subsequently confiscated orangutans back into protected rainforests.
The people behind the Orang Utan Coffee Project
Regina Frey
Regina Frey was born in Bern in 1948, grew up and now lives in Berg am Irchel, Switzerland. Upon earning her degree in biology at the University of Zurich, she devoted her funds and energies to nature conservation in Indonesia starting in 1973 with the focus on safeguarding the Sumatran orangutan and his habitat, the tropical rainforest. In 1996, she founded PanEco Foundation, which has pursued this commitment until today. Regina Frey played a major role in launching the Orang Utan Coffee project and is responsible for the production and related issues in Sumatra.
Timo Drews
Born in Hamburg in 1963, Thimo Drews is the coffee expert on the Orang Utan Coffee Project team. After completing his studies and training in the wholesale, import, and export businesses with an international green coffee dealer, he continued to work in a variety of specialized fields within the coffee industry around the world. With 26 years of professional experience, Thimo Drews ensures that the Orang Utan Coffee meets the highest standards of quality and is considered part of the specialty coffee segment.
Holger Welz
He was born in Bielefeld, Germany, in 1969 and has been living with his family in Switzerland since 2004. Holger has been in the coffee industry for more than 25 years and led the worldwide development of the brand Dalla Corte Espresso Machines based in Milan for 13 years until 2017. In 2017 he founded TONE Kaffeemaschinen AG which is based in Schaffhausen. As a Managing Partner and co-founder of the Orang Utan Coffee Project, Holger is responsible for Business Development..
Nils Erichsen
Nils Erichsen was born in Hamburg in 1965, where he currently lives and works. In 1990 he graduated in marketing and finance from the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany. He worked with Otto Holding in Cologne in various management positions. From 1998 to March 2013, Nils was a shareholder and general manager of Mahlkönig GmbH & Co. KG. During this time, he oversaw the merger of Mahlkönig GmbH with Ditting Maschinen AG in 2007, when he became CEO of Hemro Group, Bachenbülach/Zurich. As shareholder and managing director of his family holding company UBE Erichsen Beteiligungs GmbH, Hamburg, Nils is now active in consulting and private equity for coffee and non-coffee companies. He takes care of Finance & Controlling of the project.
Heinz Trachsel
Living in Berne, Heinz has been a marketing and sales manager and has over 30 years of experience in selling professional coffee machines with Schaerer Ltd. Switzerland. He has been involved with various activities with SCAE (Specialty Coffee Association of Europe) including: National Coordinator for Switzerland, Regional Coordinator for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, co-founder of the successful worldwide education platform “SCAE Coffee Diploma System” where he served from 2012-2016 as international Director of the Board. Heinz also played an active role in the alignment of the SCAE and SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) merger. Heinz acts as our OUC Ambassador, putting at disposal his professional network and know-how to promote OUC among European roasters.