Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia McMullin.
Hi Claudia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Park City, UT from NYC in 1999 with the goal of not practicing law after 10 years on Wall St. In that pursuit (and while practicing law as little as possible), I ran the animal rescue, Nuzzles & Co, and ran for (and won) public office as a Summit County Council member for 2 terms. As the Chair of the Council, I sat on the Park City Chamber’s Executive Committee. In that capacity, I learned in 2013 that the coffee shop in the Visitor Information Center was not renewing it’s lease after 1 year. Thinking this a travesty, I went home to my husband and said “I can do that”. So I bought the coffee shop and named it after my handsome rescue pup, Hugo. In 2015, I launched Hugo Coffee Roasters because I wanted to marry my passion for animals with my newly acquired passion for coffee. Toward that end, Hugo Coffee’s mission is to save animals nationwide by selling our fantastic premium coffee! Our vision is to be the go-to coffee for animal lovers nationwide. To date, we have supported over 100 rescues/sanctuaries nationwide by donating over $150,000.
Currently, Hugo Coffee has 6 Coffee shops (4 corporate owned and 2 joint ventures/licenses) including a 1500 sq. foot location in the Salt Lake City International Airport, Terminal A. We recently opened in the SLC Public Library, Main Branch as well! Our coffee is also served in 5 star resorts including Auberge & Montage. We also recently launched in all 100+ Wegmans stores, participated in the Schnucks Accelerator Program, and can be found online at hugo.coffee.
Without question, I would not be here today without the support of my wonderful husband. Poor guy thought he was marrying a lawyer in 2003! Little did he know that I would become an entrepreneur – in manufacturing no less. His unwaivering support is why I am still here after the challenges of COVID, inflation, supply chain disruptions and, of course, today, tariffs. I have also been lucky enough to have many wonderful support systems including from my Tory Burch Fellowship, Stacy’s Rise Accelerator, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, Brandjectory, and women’s networking group communities (among others)!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh my. Definitely not a smooth road! First, COVID. At the time COVID hit, Hugo Coffee was 100% B2B hospitality accounts plus my one coffee shop at the Visitor Information Center. All of my customers closed overnight. As did my shop. I had to pivot quickly and hard. I won grants (including the Stacy’s Rise grant in June 2020) and got loans. I hired a marketing team (the wonderful Lydia Martinez and her company Elle Marketing and Events), launched a website with a Shopify store, pursued grocery chains, and slowly re-grew back my B2B Hospitality business. BUT, my pivot to grocery almost put me out of business by 2022 – I jumped TOO FAST into this vertical without the necessary capital to succeed. I signed with UNFI, got into over 250 stores, hired a broker and … almost went under. I pivoted away from grocery in 2022 and self-discontinued myself out of all stores. I then got Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certification, partnered with a prime concessionaire, and opened a 1500 sq. ft. Hugo Coffee shop in November 2023 in the SLC International Airport! In 2024, I bought Two Creek Coffee and converted the 3 2 Creek locations at the U of U to Hugo Coffee shops. In 2025 we opened a Hugo Coffee in the SLC Public Library Main Branch and, stepping back into grocery, launched in all 100+ Wegmans locations (without a distributor or broker!).
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Hugo Coffee: Coffee with a Huge Heart
At Hugo Coffee, we believe your morning cup can do more than wake you up—it can help save animals, too. We’re a huge-hearted coffee company on a mission to end animal cruelty and create a better world for our furry, feathered, and four-legged friends. Whether it’s a dog curled up in a rescue or a goat roaming free in a farm sanctuary, we love them all—and we’re proud to support the incredible rescue and sanctuary partners who care for them.
Every bag of Hugo Coffee you brew directly fuels our impact. Through the sale of our premium, ethically sourced coffee, we’ve donated over $150,000 to animal welfare organizations nationwide. From pups and kitties to pigs and cows, our mission is simple: use the power of coffee to make animals’ lives better.
We’re not just a coffee company—we’re a compassionate community. When you drink Hugo Coffee, you’re joining a movement built on love, rescue, and the belief that no animal should suffer.
So pour yourself a cup. It’s not just delicious—it’s life-changing. ☕❤️🐾
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is saving animals—plain and simple. Every decision I make, every bag of coffee we roast, and every partnership we form is driven by my deep love for animals and my unwavering commitment to ending their suffering. But it’s not just about today. I’m building Hugo Coffee to be a legacy brand—one that continues to make a meaningful impact on animals’ lives long after I’m gone. My dream is for Hugo to stand as a lasting force for good in the world, where every cup of coffee poured is a small act of kindness that echoes for generations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hugo.coffee/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehugocoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehugocoffee
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hugo-coffee-roasters/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/thehugocoffee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hugocoffee3133
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hugo-coffee-roasters-salt-lake-city?osq=hugo+coffee+roasters
