Members of the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of unification with Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). At an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 23 May 2016 in London, SCAE President, Paul Stack, announced that a total of 51 per cent of SCAE members cast their vote on the future of SCAE. Of those voting, 86 per cent were in favour of unification.
SCAE President Paul Stack said: “We are thrilled at the final number, which demonstrates a clear intent of our members. The SCAE vote has given us the legal and moral mandate to effect this change and make unification happen. We would urge our friends and colleagues of the SCAA membership to turn out in equal number and to supersede the legal requirement so that together we have the moral and legal mandate to complete the unification process.”
David Veal, SCAE Executive Director, said: “Talks on unification between the SCAE and SCAA began in August 2013 and over the years that followed became more and more detailed as we progressed the discussion to formalising a preliminary agreement earlier this year. I am delighted that such a significant decision was taken with the overwhelming support of our members and we all look forward to the changes ahead.”
Attention will now turn to the SCAA membership as their vote process gets underway in the coming weeks. Once the SCAA vote is complete and validated, a formal announcement will be made as to the conclusion of the unification process.
