Soppexcca

About Soppexcca

Coffee farming is central to life for hundreds of families in Jinotega, where producers work in challenging conditions shaped by volatile prices and the impact of climate change. Founded in 1997, Soppexcca is owned by 16 member co-operatives and supports more than 650 producers and their families. Since exporting around 2,000 quintals of coffee in its early years, it has grown to export more than 22,000 quintals (one quintal equals 1,000kg of coffee), becoming a driver of economic stability, gender equality and community development. 

Coffee accounts for around 91% of the co-operative's business, but Soppexcca has also expanded into cocoa production, retail businesses and coffee processing services. Through brands including Flor de Jinotega coffee, Las Hermanas coffee, Rustikao chocolates and Nutrimiel, it helps farming families generate income beyond the coffee harvest. 

Shared Interest and Soppexcca 

Since becoming a customer in 2018, Soppexcca has been able to pre-finance coffee contracts, providing vital working capital during a key stage of the supply chain.

For agricultural co-operatives, there is often a significant gap between purchasing crops from farmers and receiving payment from international buyers. Shared Interest helps bridge this gap by enabling Soppexcca to buy coffee when the harvest is ready, rather than waiting for export payments. This allows farmers to receive payment sooner, helping them cover household costs, invest in their farms and plan for the future. Access to finance also supports plantation renovation, crop maintenance and the development of activities such as cocoa production, helping members build more diversified livelihoods. 

Building resilient livelihoods in Nicaragua 

The benefits of a strong co-operative extend beyond marketing and exporting crops. Soppexcca runs programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing and resilience of members and their families. One focus area is food security and income diversification. 

Working with NGO Food for Farmers, the co-operative supports members to establish vegetable gardens and Organic fruit production alongside coffee cultivation. These agroecological family gardens, many led by women, strengthen household food supplies while creating opportunities to earn income from surplus produce. 

The organisation has also created the Mercadito Verde (Green Market), where members can sell produce locally. Alongside investment in cocoa production and complementary activities such as beekeeping, these initiatives help reduce dependence on coffee as a single source of income. A defining feature of Soppexcca's work is its commitment to inclusion, as they support women through improved access to credit, training and technical assistance, while also promoting women's land ownership. 

Members can participate in workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, financial management and gender-based violence awareness. Young people are also a priority. Soppexcca provides training in coffee tasting, quality control, barista skills, agroecology, cocoa grafting and chocolate production. Many have also found employment through the organisation's coffee shops and community businesses, helping create viable career pathways in rural areas and reducing pressure to migrate for work. Like all coffee producers around the world, farmers in Nicaragua are increasingly experiencing the effects of climate change.

Soppexcca has taken a proactive approach by implementing the Climate Action Heroes project with buyer Altromercato and NGO Solidaridad. The initiative focused on reducing carbon emissions, improving soil health and tackling erosion. Farmers who increased carbon sequestration received bonus payments, with around 200 producers benefiting.

The co-operative also supports transitions to Organic and agroecological production through technical assistance, training and resources. It leads reforestation activities, protects local water sources and is participating in a Catholic Relief Services project aimed at improving crop yields through sustainable agricultural practices until the end of 2026. 

The organisation is also preparing for implementation of the EUDR. Every coffee farm supplying the co-operative has been geo-referenced and integrated into a digital platform. This work is particularly important as around 62% of Soppexcca's coffee exports are destined for Europe. 

By investing in traceability and compliance systems, the co-operative is helping ensure members can continue accessing important export markets. Behind every bag of exported coffee are farming families working to create a better future. Through its relationship with Shared Interest, Soppexcca can access the pre-finance needed to purchase coffee from members and fulfil export contracts, helping ensure timely payment and continued trade opportunities. For more than 650 producer families, that support helps create opportunities not only to improve coffee production today, but also to invest in their homes, educate their children and build a more resilient future.