Our History

Canterbury was founded in 1981 by Murray Dunlop to supply and control the quality of coffee for two major coffee service providers. Long-time employees remember not having computers in those days! But Canterbury did not stay small for long. Strong sales coupled with the burgeoning gourmet coffee market led to the acquisition of Alberta-based, Gales Fresh Brew Coffee Service Ltd. to expand offerings in the office coffee and food service sectors.

In 1987, a new, state of the art roasting facility was designed and built in Richmond, BC to suit the unique requirements of specialty coffee production. Since the early days, the decision was made to roast only premium 100% Arabica coffees - a decision that still stands today, despite the rising costs comparative to Robusta beans.

Expansion continued in the years that followed with branches opening in Vernon and Prince George, BC. Further acquisitions produced another branch in Victoria, BC, then finally, in 2007, the first eastern branch opened in Toronto, ON.

The company’s core business is the roasting, packaging and sale of specialty grade coffees and related beverage products to the foodservice, coffee house and grocery segments through a network of Canterbury operated sales and distribution branches and a number of authorized distributors across Canada.

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary in 2011, Canterbury now employs over 140 people. We are proud of our growth, the investments made in our people, our leadership role in the specialty coffee market and the positive contribution we've made to the communities in which we operate.

We encourage you to contact us to learn more.