Mercon

The story of the Mercon Coffee Group begins in 1952, founded in Nicaragua by Duilio Baltodano Pallais and Julio Rivera. For decades, the company grew into a major global player in the green coffee trade, distributing coffee from farms to roasters and managing the complex logistics in between. Represented in over 60 countries, it built a significant presence in key coffee-growing regions like Vietnam, Brazil, and across Central America. A pivotal chapter for the company unfolded in the years leading up to and during the global pandemic. The company took on significant debt, including a $500 million conventional debt round in May 2021 from Rabobank. However, a combination of market volatility, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions created an exceptionally challenging environment. These pressures culminated in December 2023, when the Mercon Coffee Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States, citing debts of approximately $363 million. The filing was precipitated by lenders declining to extend further credit. In July 2024, a New York bankruptcy judge confirmed the company's liquidation plan, marking the end of an era for the coffee trading giant.