Farmer Bros. Co. Receives SQF Certification

NORTHLAKE, Texas, March 05, 2018 -- Farmer Bros. Co. (NASDAQ:FARM) (“Farmer Brothers” or the “Company”), a national coffee roaster, wholesaler and distributor of coffee, tea, and culinary products, today announced that its state-of-the-art Northlake, Texas facility has received Safe Quality Food (SQF) Certification. Required by many of Farmer Brothers’ national customers, SQF Certification marks an important step that will allow Farmer Brothers the production platform to significantly increase volume for national customers as needed.

“We take the safety and quality of our products very seriously and our SQF Certification is an example of why our customers put their trust in Farmers Bros. and the products we sell,” said Mike Keown, President and CEO. “This important certification is another way in which we are more strongly positioning ourselves in the industry.  We look forward to leveraging the investment in our Northlake facility, as we ramp up volumes to generate associated margin improvement along with top-line growth.”

Added Ellen Iobst, Chief Operations Officer, "We have a strong record of SQF scores at our plants in Houston and Portland, and are pleased that this now applies to our new facility as well. This certification affirms our commitment to rigorous food safety standards as we work to substantially increase coffee volume in fiscal 2018 and beyond.”

SQF is a Global Food Safety Initiative-based system that strengthens Farmer Bros.’ commitment to supply safe quality coffee products and comply with food safety legislation. Obtaining certification serves as a guarantee to the Company’s customers that the products sold meet the highest food safety standards. 

ABOUT FARMER BROS.

Founded in 1912, Farmer Bros. Co. is a national coffee roaster, wholesaler, and distributor of coffee, tea, and culinary products. The Company's product lines include organic, Direct Trade and sustainably-produced coffee. With a robust line of coffee, hot and iced teas, cappuccino mixes, spices, and baking/biscuit mixes, the Company delivers extensive beverage planning services and culinary products to its U.S. based customers. The Company serves a wide variety of customers, from small independent restaurants and foodservice operators to large institutional buyers like restaurant and convenience store chains, hotels, casinos, healthcare facilities, and gourmet coffee houses, as well as grocery chains with private brand coffee and consumer-facing branded coffee and tea products.

Headquartered in Northlake, Texas, Farmer Bros. Co. generated net sales of over $540 million in fiscal 2017 and has approximately 1,600 employees nationwide. The Company's primary brands include Farmer Brothers®, Artisan Collection by Farmer Brothers™, Superior®, Metropolitan™, Cain's™, McGarvey®, China Mist® and Boyds®.

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and observations of future events and include any statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “expects,” “plans,” “believes,” “intends,” “will,” “could,” “assumes” and other words of similar meaning. Owing to the uncertainties inherent in forward- looking statements, actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only at the time of this press release and does not undertake to update or revise these statements as more information becomes available except as required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the appeal of the SQF certification to customers, the capacity to meet the demands of the Company’s large national account customers, the extent of execution of plans for the growth of Company business, fluctuations in availability and cost of green coffee, competition, changes in consumer preferences, business conditions in the coffee industry and food industry in general, the Company's continued success in attracting new customers, as well as other risks and other factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. 

Media Contacts:
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Leigh Parrish / Amy Feng, 212-355-4449