Hamodava

Hamodava

Company type	Private limited liability company
Industry	Coffee Importer and Roaster
Founded	Melbourne, 1897
Founder	Herbert Booth
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Area served	Auckland, New Zealand
Products	Coffee
Parent	The Salvation Army

The Hamodava Coffee Company is a beverage producer situated in Auckland, New Zealand. It exclusively offers products certified as both Fair Trade and Organic. Established in Melbourne, Australia in 1897 by Salvation Army officer Herbert Booth, the enterprise operated until ceasing activities in 1929. In September 2016, The Salvation Army reinstated Hamodava, shifting its base of operations to Auckland.

History

Herbert Booth, offspring of Salvation Army cofounder William Booth, spearheaded the organization's initiatives across Australia and New Zealand. In 1897, Booth partnered with Ashley Lamb to create the Hamodava Tea Company with the goal of financing Salvation Army missions. Lamb procured tea from Sri Lanka, where it was blended and packaged for sale in Melbourne. After initial success, by 1899 Hamodava broadened its offerings to include cocoa and coffee. The enterprise continued trading until 1929 when a sharp decline in global tea prices during the Great Depression forced its closure.

The term 'Hamodava' originates from the Sinhalese language meaning 'army'. The firm was an early adopter of ethical fair-trade principles, guaranteeing equitable compensation for farmers and empowering them to purchase plantations from The Salvation Army.

In 2016, The Salvation Army revived Hamodava as a coffee business with a focus on community engagement.

Hamodava Café

Situated on Bourke Street in Melbourne, the Hamodava Café operates within a historic building that once housed the original company in the late nineteenth century. It serves as a community gathering place providing breakfast and lunch options.

See also

• List of oldest companies in Australia

External links

• Official website