Death Wish Coffee Co. Appoints Steve Gardiner as Chief Executive Officer

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sept. 10, 2025) – Death Wish Coffee Co., the #1 Organic and #1 Fair Trade coffee brand in the United States¹, announced Steve Gardiner as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a strategic move that will propel the company’s next phase of growth. A dynamic leader with more than three decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, Gardiner brings a wealth of sales and consumer packaged goods (CPG) knowledge that will be instrumental in driving Death Wish Coffee Co.’s continued momentum as a category leader in premium coffee.

Gardiner joins the coffee brand from Nature’s Bakery, one of the fastest-growing better-for-you snack brands in North America over the past 5 years. During his time as CEO, Gardiner played a pivotal role in the brand’s rapid advancement, establishing Nature’s Bakery as the fourth-largest snack bar brand. Prior to that, Gardiner spent 24 years at PepsiCo, boosting customer engagement and driving growth for well-known brands such as Quaker, Tropicana, and Gatorade.

“When it comes to scaling CPG brands, Steve is a seasoned professional,” said Mike Brown, the founder of Death Wish Coffee. “He stresses the importance of always starting with a deep understanding of your consumer and then bringing that to life digitally and across retailers and sales channels.  This is critical to accelerating our velocity at Death Wish Coffee. Steve’s strategic vision will be extremely valuable as we continue to grow our national footprint and introduce a steady pipeline of innovation to our dedicated community of coffee lovers and new fans.”

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Gardiner shared his own perspective on the company’s future.

“I have long admired Death Wish Coffee Co.’s commitment to quality, its unique brand identity, and its passionate customer base,” said Gardiner. “It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to lead this team and build upon the brand’s growth and success. I am excited to dive in and get to work with the team, expanding our reach and bringing the leading Fair Trade and Organic Coffee Brand to more consumers.” 

With a strong, expanding retail footprint and a mission to deliver bold, premium coffee that never compromises on quality, this appointment reflects Death Wish Coffee Co.’s commitment to building a passionate team that’s devoted to meeting the evolving needs of today’s coffee consumer. For more information about Death Wish Coffee Co. and its full range of products, please visit Death Wish Coffee Co.'s website and follow the brand on Instagram at @deathwishcoffee. 

About Death Wish Coffee Co.

What started as a few employees packing orders in the basement of a quaint coffee shop is now the number one Fair Trade and Organic coffee brand in the United States and can now be found in more than 25,000 stores nationwide. Death Wish Coffee is the #1 Selling Fair Trade and #1 Organic Roasted Coffee Brand in the United States, according to SPINS MULO Scan Data in January 2025. Death Wish Coffee Company blends, including its Dark Roast, Medium Roast, Espresso Roast, and Valhalla Java, are always Fair Trade + made with organic coffee. For more information, visit Death Wish Coffee Co.'s website. 

¹Roasted Coffee = Shelf Stable Coffee Beans and Grounds; Source: SPINS, Shelf Stable Coffee Beans and Grounds, TOTAL US MULO, $ Sales, 52 Weeks End 1/26/25