One of the UK’s leading speciality coffee brands and a certified B Corporation. Since joining in 2016, she has led Union’s growth while keeping sustainability at its core. Union pioneered Union Direct Trade, linking exceptional quality coffee with sustainable sourcing, and remains a leader in ethical trade. Union has received numerous awards, including Most Ethical Brand Europe, Best Specialty Coffee Roasted Europe, and The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development. With over 25 years’ experience across global corporations and ethical SMEs, Violeta brings deep expertise in sustainable business models, resilient value chains, and organisational change.
A certified Q Grader, Violeta has travelled extensively to coffee, tea, and cocoa origins, gaining first-hand insight into the challenges faced by smallholder producers. She is currently undertaking the University of Cambridge’s MSt programme in Sustainable Leadership. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains (Cambridge), an MBA Essentials qualification from the London School of Economics, and an MSc in International Business and Marketing.