Cadefihuila

What Cadefihuila does

Cadefihuila (Cooperativa Departamental de Caficultores del Huila Ltda.) is a Colombian coffee cooperative founded in 1963 and headquartered in Neiva, Huila. It serves 4,005 associated coffee farmers across 27 municipalities in the Huila department, with operations recently extended to Alpujarra in the Tolima department. The cooperative provides a vertically integrated service stack to its members: purchase and commercialization of green coffee, sale of agricultural inputs (fertilizers, agrochemicals, tools), coffee processing services — hulling at 28,850 sacks/month of combined capacity, roasting in an INVIMA-notified plant, grinding and packaging (maquila) — drying services across 11 facilities, and multiple credit products. It operates 45 commercialization points and 18 agricultural provision stores, and runs the Cadeficafé retail brand plus vending-machine channels for finished consumer coffee. The cooperative holds Fairtrade certification for 3,512 farmers, Rainforest Alliance for 898, C.A.F.E. Practices (with Starbucks linkage) for 2,028, and 4C compliance, exporting green coffee to the USA and Spain.

The business model combines member-owned cooperative governance with multi-revenue-stream monetization. Margin is generated from the spread between cherry/parchment purchase price from members and export-sale price for green coffee, mark-ups on agricultural inputs and provision-store sales, maquila processing fees for third-party hulling/roasting, retail margins on Cadeficafé, and interest income from member credit. The current General Manager is Fernando Vargas López, in role since 2018; the cooperative resulted from the 2001 merger of CAFISUR, COOCCIDENTE, and CAFIHUILA. Strategic priorities under current management include member-base renewal (Cadefihuila Joven, Mayor, Mujeres Cafeteras), geographic extension to Tolima, retail-channel buildout via Cadeficafé and vending, and logistics capacity (Pitalito project).

Name

Cadefihuila

Legal name

Cooperativa Departamental de Caficultores del Huila Ltda.

Website

https://cadefihuila.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cadefihuila is a Colombian coffee cooperative founded in 1963 serving 4,005 smallholder farmers across 27 Huila municipalities. It generates revenue through green coffee export, agricultural input sales, hulling/roasting/processing services, the Cadeficafé retail brand, and member credit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coffee Cooperative Services

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)

Keywords

• Coffee cooperative services
• Agricultural input supply
• Coffee processing and export
• Farmer credit services
• Specialty coffee retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Neiva

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Coffee Trading and Export: Cadefihuila purchases green coffee from its associated coffee farmers and sells/trades it domestically and for export. The cooperative operates as a price stabilizer in the market, buying coffee near production sites with immediate cash payment at the best possible price.
2. Agricultural Inputs Sales: Sale of fertilizers and agricultural products from the 'canasta cafetera' (coffee basket) through 18 agricultural provision stores and 45 commercialization points. Products include major and minor fertilizers, agrochemicals, hand tools, hardware, agricultural machinery, and footwear.
3. Coffee Processing Services (Maquila): Provides toll processing services (maquila) including hulling (trilla), roasting (torrefacción), grinding, and packaging for associated farmers and third parties. Processes coffee in its roasting plant and hulling facility.
4. Cadeficafé Retail Coffee Products: Sale of roasted and ground coffee under the Cadeficafé brand in 250g, 500g, and 2,500g presentations, through the Cadeficafé store, vending machines, and distribution to cafes, social clubs, hotels, and the general public. Also exports to the United States and Spain.
5. Coffee Drying Services: Provides coffee drying services at 11 drying facilities (patios and silos) across the municipalities of Acevedo, La Plata, Paicol, Neiva, Campoalegre, Tello, Palermo, Colombia, and Vegalarga. Associated farmers receive credit advances against coffee in the drying process.
6. Credit Services: Provides preferential credit products to associated farmers including infrastructure/machinery loans (1.2% monthly rate), harvest financing (paid in coffee, no interest), loans against cooperative shares, and multiplier loans up to 6x share value. Revenue is generated through interest on credit balances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cadefihuila is a cooperative of coffee growers in Huila, Colombia that purchases, processes, and commercializes coffee from its 4,005 associates. It provides agricultural inputs, multiple credit lines, and processing services (hulling, drying, roasting), and sells finished coffee under its own brands Cadeficafé and Cadefitienda domestically and in international markets.

Product overview

Cadefihuila is a coffee cooperative offering an integrated portfolio of products and services centered on coffee cultivation support, processing, and commercialization. Core offerings include CADEFICAFE (roasted coffee brand with 12+ product lines including Platino, Mujeres Cafeteras, and specialty editions), Planta Torrefactora (roasting services), Planta Trilladora (hulling/processing), and Secaderos de Café (drying services). Supporting services include credit products for farmers (infrastructure, Credicosecha, contribution-based lending), Provisión Agrícola (45 agricultural supply stores offering fertilizers, tools, and agrochemicals), and institutional programs (Cadefihuila Joven, Cadefihuila Mayor, Mujeres Cafeteras, Taza Móvil mobile lab). The cooperative operates across three zones (Norte, Sur, Occidente) with 45+ commercialization points in Huila department.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CADEFICAFE: Roasted and ground coffee brand under Cadefihuila, sold in presentations of 250, 500, and 2500 grams with different roasting levels. Product line includes PLATINO, MUJERES CAFETERAS, ADULTO, EXOTIC, JOVEN, LEGADO, FRUTOS DE LA PAZ, BOURBON ROSADO, and EDICIÓN ESPECIAL TAZA PLATINO.
• Cadefitienda
• Cadefihuila Joven
• Cadefihuila Mayor
• Cadefihuila Mujer Cafetera
• Cadeficafé Platino

Products and services

• Coffee Purchase and Commercialization Central service of the cooperative: buying coffee from its 4,005 farmer-associates in Huila, then processing and selling it domestically and internationally.
• Provisión Agrícola (Agricultural Input Supply) Supply of agricultural inputs (fertilizers, supplies, and crop inputs) to coffee farmer-associates through the cooperative's branch network.
• Línea de Crédito "Alemana" Specialized credit line available to coffee farmer-associates for production financing.
• Crédito de Sostenimiento Credit line for ongoing coffee crop maintenance and operational expenses.
• Línea de Crédito Ordinaria Standard ordinary credit line available to farmer-associates for general production needs.
• Crédito para Renovación de Cafetales Credit line specifically for the renewal and replanting of coffee plantations.
• Línea de Financiación General financing credit line for farmer-associates' coffee production needs.
• Coffee Hulling Service (Planta Trilladora) Industrial hulling of parchment coffee into green coffee, performed at the cooperative's Planta Trilladora.
• Coffee Drying Service (Secaderos de Café) Drying of coffee at the cooperative's dedicated Secaderos de Café facilities.
• Coffee Roasting Service (Planta Torrefactora) Industrial roasting of green coffee at the cooperative's Planta Torrefactora, used for branded retail coffee.
• Cadeficafé Retail Brand Own-brand retail coffee sold at branded Cadeficafé points (Centro, Sur, Norte, Cafetero) and through Cadefitienda stores in Huila.
• Cadefitienda Retail Stores Retail store chain selling the cooperative's Cadeficafé-branded coffee and related products to end consumers.
• Coffee Export Service Export of processed coffee to 12 countries including USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Korea, and China.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,005 associated coffee farmers as of September 2020, with continued growth since the 2001 integration of three predecessor cooperatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AgrofincaminorOthersListed as a commercial ally (Aliado Comercial) providing fertilizers and agricultural products through Cadefihuila's agricultural provision stores.
• CamporigenminorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing agricultural products through Cadefihuila's network of agricultural provision stores.
• CiamsaminorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural inputs to Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• ColinagrominorOthersCommercial ally providing fertilizers and agricultural products through Cadefihuila's network.
• DisanminorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural products to Cadefihuila's agricultural provision stores.
• EcofertilminorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing eco-friendly fertilizers through Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• ManucharminorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural inputs to Cadefihuila's provision store network.
• MicrominorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing fertilizers and agricultural products through Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• MinprominorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural inputs to Cadefihuila's network.
• MonomerosminorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing fertilizers and agricultural products through Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• NitrosoilminorOthersCommercial ally providing nitrogen-based fertilizers to Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• Nutrición PlantasminorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing plant nutrition products through Cadefihuila's network.
• Nutrición VegetalminorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural nutrition products to Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• PrecisagrominorOthersListed as a commercial ally providing precision agriculture inputs to Cadefihuila's provision stores.
• RioagrominorOthersCommercial ally providing agricultural inputs through Cadefihuila's network.
• YaraminorOthersInternational commercial ally providing fertilizers through Cadefihuila's agricultural provision stores. Yara is a leading global fertilizer company.
• Fairtrade InternationalcoreOthersFairtrade certification enables Cadefihuila's farmers to access markets with price premiums and a social premium for community investment projects. Covers 3,512 farmers across 4,450 farms and 11,200 hectares.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreOthersRainforest Alliance certification ensures coffee is produced respecting economic, social, and environmental sustainability pillars. Covers 898 farmers across 1,039 farms and 2,847 hectares.
• Starbucks Coffee Company (C.A.F.E. Practices)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC.A.F.E. Practices is a verification standard established by Starbucks Coffee Company to ensure sustainable coffee sourcing. Covers 2,028 farmers across 3,155 farms and 5,977 hectares. Provides access to Starbucks supply chain.
• 4C (Common Code for the Coffee Community)minorOthers4C certification aims to gradually increase social, economic, and environmental conditions in global coffee production. Covers 3,512 farmers within the cooperative's area of influence.
• Banco AgrariominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCadefihuila acts as a correspondent bank for Banco Agrario at multiple commercialization points, providing banking services to farmers in rural Huila.
• Banco de BogotáminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCadefihuila acts as a correspondent bank for Banco de Bogotá at multiple commercialization points.
• EfectyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCadefihuila serves as an Efecty correspondent point for money transfers and payments at its commercialization locations.
• PuntoRedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCadefihuila serves as a PuntoRed correspondent for electronic payment services at its commercialization points across Huila.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ECOM Trading: Major global commodity trader with significant coffee operations across Latin America, including sourcing from cooperatives and smallholder farmers. Comparable to Cadefihuila as a counterparty and competitor in green coffee origination and export from Colombia.
• Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG): One of the world's largest green coffee trading groups, with origination in Colombia and across Latin America, plus extensive processing and exporting operations. Comparable to Cadefihuila's green coffee trading and export business, though operating at far greater scale and as a corporate incumbent rather than a cooperative.

Direct peers

• Juan Valdez Café (Procafecol): Colombian coffee retail brand owned by the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), operating cafés and packaged products globally. Comparable to Cadefihuila's Cadeficafé retail brand as a Colombian-origin branded coffee competitor in both domestic and export markets.
• Coocentral: Cooperativa Central de Caficultores del Huila y Antioquia — a Colombian coffee cooperative with a similar smallholder farmer membership model, green coffee trading, and processing infrastructure. Directly comparable as another departmental coffee cooperative serving Colombian coffee growers.
• Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers: US-based specialty coffee importer working with cooperatives and smallholder farmers in Latin America and Africa, with a focus on relationship coffee and certification. Comparable to Cadefihuila's relationship-based smallholder sourcing model with sustainability certification focus.
• Cooxupé: Brazil's largest coffee cooperative, representing over 19,000 farmer members and operating a full coffee value chain including storage, processing, financial services and export. Directly comparable as a member-owned cooperative providing an integrated platform of services to smallholder coffee producers.
• Federación Nacional de Caficultores de Colombia (FNC): Colombia's national federation of coffee growers, operating the institutional coffee purchase guarantee and supporting departmental cooperatives including Cadefihuila. Directly comparable as the apex cooperative body governing the same smallholder coffee supply chain Cadefihuila serves.
• Caravela Coffee: Specialty coffee exporter sourcing directly from smallholder farmers across Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil) and offering traceability and quality services. Comparable to Cadefihuila's export and micro-lot operations with smallholder farmer cooperatives.

Regional players

• Expocafé (Exportadora de Café): Peruvian coffee exporting company sourcing from smallholder farmers, with operations also in Colombia and Ecuador. Comparable to Cadefihuila as a Latin American specialty coffee exporter working with cooperative-organized smallholders, though operating primarily outside Colombia.

Others

• Yara International: Global fertilizer producer and a listed commercial ally of Cadefihuila supplying agricultural inputs through its provision stores. Comparable as an enabling input supplier deeply embedded in Cadefihuila's farmer-facing agricultural provision network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cadefihuilaltda?si=9QFNlZ0VE-yMrnnf
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cadefihuila
• Instagraminstagram.com/cadefihuila.co?igsh=OWpkMmRuNW42NDU0
• Xx.com/Cadefihuila
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cadefihuila-ltda

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cadefihuila