Meet Stefan Marusich and Paul Tobin, the brains behind the beans. Fresh out of uni these guys learned pretty quick that they weren’t cut out for the corporate life, so they set up on their own - first, with a water-cooler business then trading up to coffee.

The pair founded Avalanche in 2001, and since then the company has gone from strength to strength.

“The only thing more important than looking after our customers is the quality of the products we provide”

Initially the focus was on supplying cafés and restaurants with roasted beans, then a few years back Paul and Stefan decided to take their brand to the mainstream. Developing a Fair Trade organic blend that tasted great and was affordable gave Avalanche the edge it needed, now it’s is one of the fastest-growing coffees on the market, available in supermarkets nationwide.

To say Stefan and Paul get a kick out of the industry is an understatement. Their love of coffee and passion for their product is evident in the accolades they have won (including several Golds and the ‘Supreme Overall Winner’ of the 2011 New Zealand Coffee Awards).

And the Avalanche journey is not over yet … watch this space for developments, as this ‘roast with the most’ continues to grow.