Denmark’s BKI Foods appoints new Chairman

BKI Foods Chairman Jais Valeur (pictured) | Photo credit: BKI Foods

BKI Foods, one of Denmark’s largest coffee roasters, has appointed Jais Valeur as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors. 
 

In a press release, Højbjerg-based BKI said Valeur’s strategic management expertise will sharpen its competitiveness in Denmark’s rapidly developing coffee market and position the business for future growth.  

Valeur brings extensive senior leadership experience to the role, including as Executive Vice President of Arla Foods, Vice Chairman of Royal Unibrew and Group CEO of Danish Crown, one of Europe’s largest food companies. 

“BKI has a strong family heritage and a solid market position. I look forward to building on that foundation and strengthening the company’s position in a market where the demands for quality, customer-tailored solutions and sustainability are constantly evolving,” Valeur said. 

Valeur will work alongside BKI CEO Henrik Aagaard and succeeds Karl Mathiesen as Chairman. Mathiesen will retain a Non-Executive Director role at the company. 

BKI was founded by Svend Mathiesen in 1960 as an importer of Brazilian coffee. Today, still under the ownership of the Mathiesen family, BKI sources, roasts and packages coffee for Horeca, e-commerce and wholesale clients, roasting approximately 12,000 tons of coffee annually at its Aarhus roastery. 

The coffee roaster’s proprietary portfolio of packaged coffee brands includes BKI, Black Coffee Roasters, Christgau and Mountain. BKI also owns Copenhagen-based specialty coffee roaster and café operator Kontra Coffee.