Our Instructor
Ed Arvidson is the instructor of the Los Angeles Coffee Business School, and President, and founder of E&C Consulting. E&C's primary focus is on business consulting for the "Specialty Coffee Industry". Ed has been providing consulting services to major corporations, as well as "Specialty Coffee" business owners, for over 15 years. He has worked with literally hundreds of clients, in the planning and opening of their coffee businesses. He's also been a troubleshooter for existing and struggling retailers. Ed has personally been involved in the employee training, and has assisted in the store openings for nearly 100 coffee businesses.
Previous to starting his own company, Ed was co founder and senior consultant for the Bellissimo Coffee Info Group. His extensive foodservice experience contributed to the development and performance of many of Bellissimo's consulting services. He was also co creator of many Bellissimo core educational products, including: Espresso 101 DVD, Everything But Coffee DVD, Espresso 501 DVD, Customer Service DVD, Bean Business Basics (a 700 page business start up manual), as well as the book, Opening a Specialty Coffee Drive Thru.
To date, Ed has created several products independently, which include, "Coffee Drive Thru Plans", a ready to use set of construction plans for 3 different drive thru buildings, and "Coffee Business Success in a Turbulent Economy", a 350 page manual designed to help coffee business owners survive this current and difficult economic time.
As an educator, Ed developed and taught the business curriculum at the American Barista & Coffee School (ABCs) from its inception, until July of 2009. Ed frequently writes for coffee periodicals, and holds the distinction of having presented more educational seminars at the Coffee Fest trade shows than any other industry speaker. He frequently writes and speaks on core operational and profitability issues.
Prior to his consulting career, Ed was an owner/manager of 3 retail coffee operations. He also previously owned an award-winning restaurant, after working for 15 years in the corporate restaurant industry. During the course of his career, he has held positions as: owner, general manager, corporate management trainer, corporate food and beverage manager, and corporate store troubleshooter.
In his teens, and early 20s, Ed gained experience at all food service positions, including dishwasher, bus boy, cook, waiter, and finally bar tender. It is from this wealth of experience, having started as a dishwasher, and working his way to CEO, that Ed understands every aspect of the business, can identify problems, and execute solutions!
In an industry filled with many "so-called" educators and consultants, most of who have had minimal or no hands-on experience, Ed stands-out as a true professional resource, that can help you achieve success in the Specialty Coffee Business.