In episode 79, “The Perfect Blend,” Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Les Schirato AM, Chief Executive Officer of Vittoria Food and Beverage, home of Australia’s leading pure coffee brand.
Finding himself in a quiet Australian coffee scene many years ago, Les shares with us his journey fuelled by a relentless drive and spirited entrepreneurship, overcoming sociocultural barriers and a conservatively uninspired market to shape the Australian coffee culture we know and love today. As Australia’s “Coffee King”, he has remarkably built a thriving international business and wonderfully brought together the best of Australian and Italian cultures. Finally, Les sheds light on passion, drive, trust and loyalty, elements behind the perfect blend paramount to his success.
Les has served as President of the Australian Coffee and Tea Associate and Chairman of the YPO Gold Sydney Chapter. Les’ passion and his service to the community through philanthropic contributions to health, youth, social welfare organisations and to business was recognised with him being awarded a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2008. In 2017, Les was awarded a Knighthood of the Order of Merit by Decree of the French President for his work between Australia and France in the area of trade and tourism.