Defining moment in business: Blue Turaco Coffee

Every small business has a story. It’s one of triumphs and fears, celebrations and pressure. And it’s told in defining moments – both positive and negative – that shape your business as it grows.

For Wycliffe Sande, owner of Blue Turaco Coffee, the defining moment of his business was holding – and smelling – the first bag of coffee that came off the production line.

As part of our 2025/26 PREM Rugby sponsorship we asked small business owners to tell us the moment that defined their business. We loved Wycliffe’s remarkable journey, from picking coffee cherries as a child in Uganda, to becoming the first farmer-owned coffee brand in the UK. It’s why we’re backing his business by sharing his inspiring story with the world. 

Resilience during difficult times

Wycliffe’s defining moment stood out because it was the result of years of perseverance through difficult times. On the rugby pitch and in business, navigating defining moments requires hard work and reliable support. That’s why Funding Circle backs small businesses with the funding they need to succeed.

As part of our commitment to backing small business owners, Wycliffe won a package to showcase Blue Turaco, which included hospitality at a Harlequins vs Sale Sharks Gallagher PREM game, as well as his business name in lights at the stadium, a programme ad and a mention of his coffee brand on the For the Love of Rugby podcast. We also commissioned a professional video to show his story, which we’re proud to share here.

Determination to succeed

Born in Uganda during the devastating civil war of the 1980s, Wycliffe’s childhood was hard. After his father died, he began picking coffee cherries to help buy food for him and his mother.  

Now, against all the odds and people saying he couldn’t do it, Wycliffe uses those same coffee cherries to make his Blue Turaco coffee, which is stocked in major retailers across the UK, including Waitrose, Tesco and Co-op.

Giving back to his community 

Wycliffe has never forgotten where he came from. He buys directly from smallholder farmers from around the village where he grew up, and pays them up to 30 per cent more for their coffee cherries.

Every bag sold provides two school meals for Ugandan children. Blue Turaco is currently feeding more than 1,200 children every school day.

Blue Turaco’s defining moment 

Here Wycliffe explains why holding that first bag of coffee was the defining moment for his small business: 

“I held the very first bag that came off the production line to be sent to Waitrose. I held it in my hands – so crisp. The smell of my coffee filled the roastery. Coffee from the same farm in Uganda where, at the age of eight, I picked cherries to help buy food for my mother and me after my father died.

“Now my team is bringing that very same beautiful coffee to the world. But inside that bag was more than coffee beans. Each sale would provide two school meals for a farmer's child. The same child I was 30 years ago could now go to school and not be hungry.

“As the bags flowed off the line, I would soon leave for Uganda for the next harvest, this time bigger, as three more major retailers now wanted our coffee. 

“Just a year on, we are in those retailers, we have fed thousands of children and brought incredible robusta coffee into homes across the UK.

“And tucked in my desk drawer, where it will always be, is that first bag of this incredible journey.”

Wycliffe’s story is one of grit, determination and resilience, the same traits found in professional rugby. This is at the heart of our PREM Rugby partnership, which is about to enter its fifth season. 

Business finance that backs you

Every small business faces defining moments. Some are planned for months; others appear without warning. When they come, having the right partner by your side makes all the difference. That’s where we come in. 

From hassle-free loans to flexible credit, we offer finance designed for the way you do business. Learn more about our products and how we can support you.

03/08/26: While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice.