Sherbrooke, June 2026 - Café William today announced its largest low-carbon shipment to date. Scheduled for late summer 2026, the voyage will carry 1,000 tonnes of coffee from Colombia and Honduras to Montreal by sail cargo vessel, doubling the volume of previous sailings.
The project is being carried out in collaboration with maritime transport company Neoline, which will deploy the world’s largest cargo sailboat to transport this shipment. Thanks to its primarily wind-powered propulsion system, Neoline aims to reduce emissions by at least 80% compared with a conventional vessel.
"Coffee is the second most consumed beverage in North America, and long-distance shipping is unavoidable. That's why we're investing in sail transport, currently the cleanest option available, to reduce our environmental impact at every step," said Serge Picard, co-owner of Café William.
Growing Demand for Sustainable Products
Buoyed by growing demand for its sustainable, high-quality products, Café William is projecting volume growth of over 50% in the coming year. To keep its sustainability initiatives in step with that expansion, the company is structuring its growth around a single, synchronized goal: scale volume while reducing its environmental footprint — through sail cargo transport and electric roasting.
"The demand we're seeing reflects a deeper shift: consumers are increasingly turning to local, premium products rooted in sustainable practices," said Rémi Tremblay, CEO and co-owner of Café William.
This growth translates into expanded operations across Quebec and new hires at the company's LEED-certified facility in Sherbrooke.
About Café William's Sustainability Initiatives
At Café William, we are committed to innovating at every link in our supply chain to build a sustainable, forward-thinking ecosystem within the coffee industry. This means sourcing organic beans from Fairtrade cooperatives, shipping select coffee lots by sail cargo vessel, operating an industrial electric roaster, and running an eco-responsible LEED-certified facility.
Learn more: https://cafewilliam.com/pages/sustainability
About Café William
Established in Sherbrooke since 1988, Café William is one of Canada's largest importers of organic and fair-trade coffee. The company is on a mission to produce the world's most sustainable coffee, combining innovation, social responsibility, and exceptional quality.
Follow Café William on social media:
Instagram: @cafewilliam | Facebook: Café William | LinkedIn: Café William
About Neoline
Founded by merchant marine professionals and headquartered in Nantes, Neoline has developed an innovative maritime transport solution built on primary wind propulsion — reducing CO2 emissions by a factor of five compared to a conventional cargo vessel of the same size. Neoline's first sail cargo ro-ro vessel, the Neoliner Origin, has been operating a regular route since October 2025, connecting Saint-Nazaire (FR), Saint-Pierre (FR), Baltimore (US), and Halifax (CA). This trailblazing approach is part of the maritime sector's broader energy transition, reconciling logistical performance with environmental responsibility.
contact@neoline.eu | www.neoline.eu
For interview requests or additional information, contact:
Mara Vezeau
info@maravezeau.com
514-260-2974
