Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has completed an expansion of its coffee processing facility in Varginha, Minas Gerais, significantly boosting the site’s storage and processing capabilities.

The expansion adds 13,000 square metres to the existing plant, bringing the total footprint to 31,000 square metres. With the upgrade, the facility can now store up to 1 million coffee bags and process over 2.5 million annually, more than double its previous capacity. Shipping capacity has also increased by 50%.

LDC, which has operated in Brazil’s coffee sector for more than 35 years, said the move strengthens its position in the country’s largest coffee-producing state and supports its broader strategic growth plans.

New features at the Varginha site include robotic loading systems and box silo storage technology. The company also implemented additional safety systems exceeding national standards.

Arthur Graf, LDC’s head of coffee for Brazil, said: “Our expanded facility in Varginha is now among the largest and most advanced green coffee processing warehouses in the region, positioning it as a key logistics hub for coffee storage and distribution. Today’s inauguration therefore represents a significant milestone for our growth plans in Brazil, reaffirming our long-term commitment to the country and its coffee sector.”

He added: “This expansion will streamline logistics for sourcing from small and medium-sized coffee growers, to meet both domestic distribution and export demand. With increased storage and processing capacity, we can now purchase and receive coffee as soon as farmers are ready to sell, ensuring a more efficient flow of goods, even during peak harvest periods. This offers farmers more convenience and flexibility, enabling them to market their coffee at the most strategic time.”

LDC operates two other coffee facilities in Brazil – in Nova Venécia (Espírito Santo) and Matipó (Minas Gerais – and employs around 480 people across its Brazilian coffee operations.