2023 STL Women's Peer Group Event featuring Tricia Zimmer, Co-Owner, Kaldi's Coffee

After graduating from the University of Missouri’s College of Business in 2003 with an emphasis in Management, Tricia applied and was selected to the Rotational Development Program at Edward Jones. After 6 months she was chosen to assist in developing the Chinese marketing initiative on site in Toronto, Canada. Following the successful implementation of the program, she worked in Mutual Funds Marketing until she and her family crossed paths with Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company in late 2005.

In 2005 she and her family purchased Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company in St. Louis, MO. Since then, they have opened multiple new retail locations in addition to the original location and have also expanded the wholesale operation of the company through strategic partnerships such as Schnucks Markets and The Coca Cola Company. Kaldi’s has a wholesale operation in mid-town St. Louis where they roast and sell beans to restaurants, cafes, offices, and grocers across the US.  

In 2008 Tricia and her family invested in another coffee venture in Honolulu, Hawaii where they own and operate multiple retail locations, Honolulu Coffee, in Hawaii and have over 25 licensed stores in Guam, Canada, and Japan. Honolulu Coffee Company specializes in 100% Hawaiian grown coffees. A few years ago they purchased another 150 acre coffee farm in Kona and have over 225 acres of farm land on the big Island of Hawaii.

In 2013, they invested in two more ventures in Nashville, Tennessee, Frothy Monkey Roasting Co. and Firepot Tea. The Frothy Monkey brand has 10+ stores/cafes in the Tennessee area and a roasting warehouse in Nashville. Firepot Tea can be found in many states including Kaldi’s locations as well as Honolulu Coffee and cafes and restaurants across the U.S. In April 2018, they opened the first of its kind Firepot Tea Bar in Nashville, TN on the popular 12 South Street.

In 2021, Tricia lead a strategic initiative with the Coca Cola Company’s own coffee brand, Costa Coffee, which is based in London, England. Kaldi’s Coffee is the US operator for the first Costa Coffee stores in the US. Costa Coffee is the second largest global coffee retailer in the world after Starbucks.

In 2022, the family purchased Dancing Goats/Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters. This company has a large roastery in Atlanta, GA along with 5 retail locations and another roastery in Olympia, WA with 4 locations in the WA area. The brand is a long standing and respected company in the Specialty Coffee Industry and has been in business since 1986.

Recently, Tricia has started her very own Women In Coffee business that is 100% woman owned to focus more on women’s initiatives around the world. She is excited to work with new businesses to share her story and make an impact.

Tricia currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Missouri Baptist Hospital and the Strategic Development Board at the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri. She is also a member of EO (Entrepreneur’s Organization) and YPO (Young President’s Organization).

When not working she enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling to Kentucky Lake and Telluride, CO. Tricia resides in St. Louis, MO with her three children, sons Hunter (13) and Walter (10), and daughter Vivian (6).