Date Published: 22nd September 2016

On 30th March 2016 there was an official launch of the Mamie Martin Fund’s agreement with Brodies, the well-known coffee and tea merchant based in Edinburgh. Brodies have very kindly and generously offered to market Malawian coffee and transfer profits from the sales of the coffee to the Mamie Martin Fund. Alexander McCall Smith, whose novels are published internationally, and who is the author of the Scotland Street novels, wrote a short story about the coffee and those who drink it.

(To read more about Big Lou and friends, you need to visit their website).

Both Alexander McCall Smith and the Brodies chairman, Ralph Lutton, were at the Elephant House on the Bridges in Edinburgh, for the launch. The owner of the Elephant House, Iain Fraser, is a coffee fan and has been generous in his support of the MMF/Brodies link.

Scotland Street coffee is for sale in many shops and outlets and is available in all branches of Dobbies Garden Centres.

In June 2016 an email from Brodies contained the following news: “We have sold enough coffee bags to put one girl through secondary education for 4 years and I am hoping by the end of the year it will be at least two.” This is terrific news and a big contribution towards the on-going work of the Mamie Martin Fund.