Speciality coffee is not just a fad, being a values-led, social business means 'trying to be like Jesus'

Founder of CLO Coffee, Linda Castle, recounts the struggles to keep her socially conscious organisation alive amidst competition from larger chains

Linda Castle is head roaster and co-founder (with husband Nick) of CLO Coffee, a roastery and coffee wholesaler in Leeds. While they’ve adapted their business over the last few years, their vision for community remains unchanged and continues to drive everything they do.

Growing up, Linda found faith at the charismatic church she attended in Leeds: “as young as twelve, I was fairly sure,” she says. Feeling “really at home” in that environment cultivated her vision for community: “It had meant so much to me. I wanted to find a way of expressing that.”