The latest buzz: 100,000 new jobs at Löfbergs

The Swedish coffee roaster Löfbergs is working flat out. The company is temporarily hiring 100,000 new co-workers. But this time it is not about increasing the coffee production, but a different kind of business.

- This recruitment, which is the largest one in the history of the company, will probably create a buzz. It literally shows that we care about biodiversity, and we are thrilled that we have found the suitable staff with that extra sting, says Lars Appelqvist, CEO at Löfbergs.

Important contribution
In other words, the new staff consists of 100,000 bees that are temporarily employed from the recruitment company Bee Urban. The bees will live and work in hives placed on Löfbergs's rooftop in central Karlstad. Bee Urban is responsible for all contact with the hired staff and make sure that they are doing well.

- Three quarters of all food depend on the pollination of bees. Bees are therefore vital for people to survive. At the same time, the number of bees is reducing in the entire world due to such things as diseases and pollutions. That is why Löfbergs's contribution is so important, says Filip Gustafsson at Bee Urban.

A greener urban environment
The new co-workers are settling in at their new job. Their main task will be to pollinate plants in the immediate surroundings and contribute to a greener urban environment. The staff also has production responsibilities. The honey the bees produce is accrued to Löfbergs and will be used at the company’s café, Rosteriet.

- I expect the bees to be as busy as our regular staff. This is a pilot scheme, but if it is successful it might be a question of permanent employment, says Lars Appelqvist.

For more information:
Anders Thorén, Löfbergs, anders.thoren@lofbergs.se, +46 (0)54-14 01 10
Filip Gustafsson, Bee Urban, filip@beeurban.se, +46 (0)73-388 94 08

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About Bee Urban
Bee Urban was founded by two environmentally conscious biologists: Karolina Lisslö and Josefina Oddsberg. The purpose is to spread awareness, knowledge about pollination and bees as well as their impact on the local and the global scale. The by-product of the business is sweet as honey!

Bee Urban offers sponsorship of beehives to companies in the urban environment. The hives are placed on the property of the companies. Bee Urban caters for the upkeep of the hives and the honey is accrued by the sponsor. The honey is packaged in a format that conveys the sponsor's initiative for helping the environment in a positive, innovative and tangible manner.

For most people, bees are harmless. But if you are allergic to bee-stings and get stung, you ought to seek medical care. Unlike wasps, bees are not interested in what we people eat and are therefore not often around us. The bee is less aggressive than the wasp and can only use its sting once. The bees die if they sting, so it is their very last way out.

www.beeurban.se