Richard Milner is the Category Insight Manager at Lincoln and York, one of the leading discreet coffee sourcing, blending, and contract roasting partners in the United Kingdom. With over 20 years of dedicated experience in fast-moving consumer goods category management, he serves as the primary market expert driving data-backed growth strategies for the roastery and its diverse wholesale client base.
Throughout his tenure, Richard has specialised in breaking down complex multi-channel market data across both the out-of-home and in-home coffee sectors. His work focuses heavily on tracking shifting consumer behaviors, evaluating product and packaging innovations—such as the growth of specialty bean-to-cup usage and eco-conscious formats—and identifying whitespace opportunities for high street chains, independent boutique cafes, and major grocery retailers.
By converting raw electronic point-of-sale data, consumer panel metrics, and bespoke qualitative research into clear, actionable commercial strategies, Richard enables partners to successfully navigate pricing fluctuations and changing tastes. He regularly represents Lincoln and York at international tradeshows and acts as a prominent industry commentator, providing expert analysis on the enduring appeal of affordable luxury, premium single-origins, and the rising demand for high-quality decaffeinated options in a fluctuating global economy.