Co-Founder, Director, Licensed Q Grader

Hols started her career in coffee as a buyer and ethical coordinator for green importers, Falcon Specialty. She became a licensed Q Grader taster in 2014 and participates as a member of the international jury for the Cup of Excellence. Hols has penned our ethical procurement approach and selects our green coffee as well as the producers we work alongside.

Contact: hols@northstarroast.com

Co-Founder,

Alex (known to most as ‘Krag’) founded the business in 2013 at the age of 22. He learned to roast with some of the best and now heads up our Roastery operation, overseeing production and managing our green coffee purchases with Hols. Krag has worked on consultancy projects for a host of roasteries across the UK and Europe, and now holds a managerial role within the operational side of our business.

Contact: krag@northstarroast.com

Coffee Programme Manager

James has been roasting for North Star since 2017. He now heads up our production roasting whilst working alongside the dispatch team to fulfil all orders coming in. James has developed a fantastic palate which hugely complements his approach to roasting, and has provided him with an interesting vocabulary to describe his experience of the coffees we bring in. James is the reason our coffees are so consistent, he genuinely wants to bring out the absolute best of each bean and he does a great job of inherently understanding the potential each lot holds.

Contact: James@northstarroast.com

Head of Operations

Marcus manages the preparation of wholesale and retail orders. He is fastidious in his commitment to our customers to package their orders with care and attention to detail. He also shares our collective love of sweet treats!

Contact: Marcus@northstarroast.com

Head of Brand

Lucas has over ten years of experience designing for independent brands and is the man behind many of Leeds’ much loved brands. We started working with him when searching for more sustainable packaging options and he was responsible for launching our new packaging in 2021. He has since joined us full time! Lucas is responsible for both North Stars’ external and internal branding and will play a key role in delivering our impact-led brand values.

Contact: marketing@northstarroast.com

eCommerce Manager

Rich Sheridan is the eCommerce Manager at North Star Coffee Roasters in Leeds. With a background in creative operations at indie Leeds businesses, Rich brings a wealth of experience in digital strategy and customer engagement. At North Star, he oversees the online retail experience, ensuring that customers receive exceptional service and access to ethically sourced, specialty-grade coffees.

Contact: rich@northstarroast.com

Account Manager

Kirri is our dedicated Account Manager with over a decade of experience in fine dining restaurants, specialising in developing coffee programs. In previous roles she transformed coffee experiences in restaurants, connecting with top roasters nationwide, enhancing staff training, and curating coffee menus. Now, Kirri brings her expertise to our coffee-loving North Star community.

Contact: kirri@northstarroast.com

Management Accountant

Katie Kent is the Management Accountant at North Star. With over a decade of experience in finance, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. Katie has a passion for supporting local music and community initiatives. Her commitment to both financial excellence and community engagement makes her an invaluable member of the team.

Contact: accounts@northstarroast.com

Barista Trainer

John became a part of our Coffee Shop team in 2020, however, it didn’t take long before he joined the ranks of our roastery crew. Originally brought in ‘on loan’ for one week only, it quickly became apparent that he was a triple threat, steering his teaching abilities towards the wholesale team. Two years later, John is now our dedicated barista trainer, providing training to our entire wholesale customer base, as well as running our beloved Home Barista Course and other in-house events

Contact : John@northstarroast.com

Account Manager & Trainer

Meet Luke – the newest member of our sales team (though it feels like he’s been part of NS* forever). With a background spanning fine dining, start-up coffee shops, and equipment supply, he brings heaps of hospitality experience and infectious energy. We first met him through FIK Coffee House, and we’re so glad he’s now a fully fledged North Star. Ask him about his Labrador Lando or his brass band days!

Contact : luke@northstarroast.com

General Manager

Sam is the General Manager at North Star Coffee Kiosk and a passionate coffee enthusiast. A recent V60 convert, Sam loves exploring the diverse flavours of specialty coffee. Outside of brewing, Sam enjoys reading, weight training, football, and diving into music, embracing coffee as both a ritual and endless learning journey.

Barista

Henry moved from being full time graphic designer to pursue a career in coffee. Away from the tools, Henry likes bouldering, playing badminton, gaming, and chilling with his cat Jemima.