Hamburg based, Tchibo purchased the company back in 2016, and Capitol Foods in 2018 with each operating under its own name. Recognising the strong values and reputation for quality and sustainable practices, parent company Tchibo has taken the decision to consolidate its UK & Ireland businesses under the Scottish brand’s name. 

The single business will provide customers with a wider range of products from across the entire business portfolio whilst offering improved efficiency and service to its entire customer base. 

The recently announced investment in the Glasgow roastery has expanded its production capabilities, with new coffee products coming into the Glasgow HQ over the coming 12 months.  

The winner of Glasgow’s Most Outstanding Business at the Glasgow Business Awards in 2023, the company sees this move as one of the most exciting changes to the coffee market in a decade.  

Paul Chadderton, managing director, Matthew Algie said, “This is a significant moment for our business and particularly for our Glasgow HQ which is the beating heart of our business.  

“Coupling this move with the recent investment programme we announced back in April 2023 it places the firm in a very strong position to build upon our growth strategy and at a pivitoal moment in the coffee sector. 

“The majority of the senior leadership team, including myself, have all relocated to Glasgow as we continue to expand the capabilities of the site, including launching our new fully recyclable packaging, various new product lines and our training and development hub which is an industry leading centre for training the next generation of baristas across the UK and Ireland.”  

Coffee continues to be one of the fastest moving sectors, with the post pandemic boom in coffee drinkers showing no signs of slowing down. With the single company now operating under one collective vision, the team are excited to offer an even more customer centric operation.  

Paul continued, “We are seeing new markets emerge as businesses look to grow their sources of revenue. Sectors such as garden centres no longer simply use their cafes as a footfall driver but is a critical part of their income.  

“Matthew Algie is perfectly positioned to help these businesses and our staff are experts in helping firms get more out of their coffee offering. Whether it be helping firms move to more sustainable operations by using our carbon neutral products, or simply supporting local cafes in adapting to the ever-changing trends within the market- this new announcement will accelerate our ability to support out tens of thousands of customers.” 

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Maratá’s coffee & tea business is predominantly present in the northern part of Brazil through its longstanding and well-known brands Café Maratá and Chá Maratá. The acquisition complements JDE Peet’s’ existing portfolio of brands predominantly sold in the southern regions of Brazil, and increases the company’s scale and national coverage in Brazil, a market which offers compelling prospects for both volume and value growth. As a result, the acquisition offers long-term value creation potential through attractive revenue and cost synergies.

Fabien Simon, CEO of JDE Peet’s, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Maratá’s coffee & tea organisation to JDE Peet’s. Maratá’s portfolio and geographical presence are highly complementary to our existing franchise in Brazil. Together, we will serve more cups across a full range of price points and product offerings while expanding our regional presence in Brazil, one of the world’s largest coffee markets.”

José Augusto Vieira, founder of JAV Group, added, “I am very proud of the strong and successful coffee & tea platform we have built, and I am very pleased that by joining JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee & tea company, we have secured the long-term development and success of this great business.”

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La Colombe currently serves consumers across multiple channels, including retail (including ready-to-drink), cafés, foodservice, and direct-to-consumer.

“At a time where the industry has faced challenges to grow sales, Chobani has delivered double-digit, volume-led sales growth, and considerable margin expansion. We have never been stronger or better positioned to chart our next chapter of growth,” stated Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya. “We’ve already made an investment in the coffee category with our creamers and are excited about bringing La Colombe into the Chobani family, and offering the delicious, high-quality cold brew and ready-to-drink craftmanship of La Colombe to a next generation of consumers, powered by a strong distribution partner in KDP.”

“La Colombe is a unique brand and well positioned to continue its strong growth trajectory, including upside as its ready-to-drink line expands availability through our company-owned DSD network and with premium K-Cup® pods now in the market,” said, KDP chairman and CEO Bob Gamgort. “Both as a strategic partner and a minority shareholder, we are excited by the path ahead.”

As part of Chobani, La Colombe will continue to operate as an independent brand. This approach allows for collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two companies while preserving the unique identity and innovation that La Colombe is known for.

La Colombe is a growing player in the fast-growing $5 billion US ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee category, and its offering will prove highly complementary to Chobani’s core yogurt portfolio and modern foods innovations, including oat milk and creamer. As a result of its superior brand and the consumers’ developing preference for cold coffee, La Colombe’s RTD line has grown over 3x in the last five years and is positioned for accelerated growth. Under Chobani ownership, La Colombe will not only benefit from the Company’s extensive retail execution, marketing and cold chain capabilities to grow its multi-serve offering, but through its recently announced sales and distribution agreement with KDP, La Colombe will also meaningfully expand the reach of its single-serve product line and have access to grow underdeveloped channels like convenience retail.

Beyond plans to unlock La Colombe’s true sales potential, Chobani will also enhance La Colombe’s procurement practices, deliver meaningful cost synergies, and elevate its overall operational performance. In addition, given cultural alignment and shared values, La Colombe will play a key role in the company’s ongoing journey to doing good and making the world a healthier place.

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The sale was first announced in May 2023, with Finlays selecting Browns Investments PLC as the approved buyer based on its strong legacy of guiding its tea estates to continued growth, but also its focus on doing so sustainably while supporting its workforce and local communities.

James Finlay Kenya is a grower, manufacturer and supplier of Kenyan tea. It covers a total self-contained area of 10,300 hectares, including 5,200 hectares of tea fields over nine tea estates. The sale includes all parts of James Finlay Kenya Ltd except the Saosa tea extraction facility which will remain under Finlays’ ownership and will become known as ‘Finlays Extracts, Kenya’.

Headquartered in Colombo, Browns has a proud heritage in operating plantation businesses, owning Maturata Plantations, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC, and Udapussellawa Plantations PLC. It is one of the largest tea producing companies in Sri Lanka consisting of 49 individual estates that stretch across an area of over 30,000 hectares and employs over 10,000 individuals.

As part of the sale agreement, Browns and Finlays have mutually agreed to acknowledge the long-standing support of the local community by offering 15% of shares in James Finlay Kenya for public sale through the Kipsigis Highlands Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

James Finlay Kenya, which will become known as ‘Browns Plantations Kenya’ in due course, is Brown’s first investment in the Kenyan tea industry which it sees as an exciting opportunity for growth. In December 2021, Browns acquired Finlays’ Sri Lankan tea estates business, which has gone from strength to strength, demonstrating Browns’ successful commitment to sustainable growth.

Finlays has a long history in Kenya and is continuing to invest in the country through its continued ownership of the Saosa tea extracts facility, and its Kenyan tea sourcing and packing operation James Finlay Mombasa. Saosa manufacturers a range of tea extracts and aromas, adding significant value to the Kenyan economy.

Kamantha Amarasekera, CEO of Browns Investments PLC said: “We’re delighted to welcome all members of the James Finlay Kenya community into the Browns family. It’s an amazing business, powered by an incredible community, and superb growth potential which will not just benefit the community, but the Kenyan economy at large.”

James Woodrow, group managing director of Finlays said: “James Finlay Kenya has played an enormous role in Finlays’ success story over the years. In Browns Investments, the JFK community has a conscientious new investor with a bright and exciting vision. We will always have a very close relationship with ‘Browns Plantations Kenya’, and we continue to invest in Kenya through both Saosa, our tea extraction facility, and through James Finlay Mombasa. While this is the end of an era, we’re delighted that 15% of shares in James Finlay Kenya will be owned by members of the local community.”

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Maratá’s coffee and tea business is predominantly present in the northern part of Brazil through its longstanding and well-known brands Café Maratá and Chá Maratá. The business employs around 1,200 employees, operates two manufacturing plants and sells its products through a dense and well-established distribution network.

Upon completion, the acquisition will complement JDE Peet’s’ existing portfolio of brands primarily sold in the southern regions of Brazil. The acquisition will increase JDE Peet’s’ scale and national coverage in Brazil, a market which offers compelling prospects for both volume and value growth. As a result, the acquisition offers long-term value creation potential through attractive revenue and cost synergies.

Commenting on the acquisition, Fabien Simon, CEO of JDE Peet’s, said, “Over the last three years, we have been focused on transforming JDE Peet’s into a faster growing, correctly invested, and more sustainable company. We are now ready to take the next step and continue our disciplined path of geographical expansion and diversification. I am therefore very pleased with the opportunity to buy Maratá’s well-run coffee and tea platform in Brazil, an attractive market we know well and where we have successfully made acquisitions in the past.” He noted that following its completion, “this acquisition will represent a highly complementary proposition to our existing business in Brazil, which has been building strong momentum in recent years, allowing us to serve more cups across a full range of price points and product offerings while expanding our regional presence in Brazil.”

José Augusto Vieira, founder of JAV Group, added, “Since Maratá was founded over 50 years ago, we have stayed true to our mission of providing innovative, socially responsible, and high-quality products to consumers across Brazil. I am very proud of the strong and successful coffee and tea platform we have built, and I am very pleased that by handing over our coffee and tea business to JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee and tea company, we are securing the long-term development and success of this great business.”

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Nordic Approach, founded in 2011 by Morten Wennersgaard and Andreas Hertzberg, is one of the most respected specialty coffee importers in the world. Based in Oslo, the team has created a remarkable identity and value for their customers through exceptional quality in coffee, services, information, and marketing.

In 2017, Nordic Approach spun off its sourcing department – Tropiq – to serve not only micro-roasters and small volumes of specialty coffee, but also roasters that were looking for high-quality coffee in larger volumes. With colleagues in Ethiopia and Colombia, Tropiq has a strong focus on fostering farmer relationships on the ground.

“With the acquisition of the majority of shares in Nordic Approach and Tropiq, said NKG Group CEO David M. Neumann, “we are confident that we now are in an ideal position to expand our specialty business not just in Scandinavia, but across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. At the same time, we will become better business partners for producers and sellers of the highest quality coffees and to offer a full range of green coffee and coffee-related services to the high-quality focused Scandinavian market.”

Hamburg, Germany-based NKG is a green coffee service group, that operates more than 50 companies in 26 countries.

Morten Wennersgaard and Andreas Hertzberg remain as minority shareholders and will continue leading and developing the companies as managing directors.

“Nordic Approach, Tropiq and NKG are aligned in the focus on sustainability and supporting coffee growing communities at scale. We believe that this step will open doors to new possibilities, collaborations, and resources that will benefit our team, our customers and the specialty coffee community,” said Wennersgaard and Hertzberg. “As part of the NKG network, we will continue our journey of growth while upholding the values and practices that have made us successful. We’re extremely motivated to extend our product range, increase presence in existing markets and expand our specialty coffee business worldwide, thanks to Nordic’s and NKG’s joint vision and expertise. Together, we’ll make a global impact and continue to bring amazing coffee to even more people.”

Everyone at NKG is welcoming Morten, Andreas, and their teams in Oslo, Addis Ababa and Bogotá. Wennersgaard and Hertzberg, along with other colleagues from the group, will be representing NKG at the World of Coffee in Athens, 22-24 June.

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Seattle’s Best Coffee’s approachable line of whole bean, roast and ground packaged coffee, and K-Cup pods are available in a variety of roasts and flavour profiles across both foodservice and grocery channels. In addition to Starbucks packaged coffees distributed by Nestlé under the Global Coffee Alliance, Seattle’s Best Coffee joins Nestlé’s roster of well-known coffee brands in the United States including Nescafé, Nespresso and Blue Bottle. The addition adds depth to Nestlé’s North America coffee portfolio by further expanding the company’s position in the category.

“We continue to deepen our partnership with Nestlé to deliver the best of the Starbucks Experience to our customers in channels outside of our retail stores,” said Michael Conway, group president, Starbucks international and channel development. “We’re confident that Nestlé will continue to grow the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand as we focus on our strategy to elevate the premium coffee experience for consumers through the Starbucks brand.”

“Our partnership with Starbucks has confirmed Nestlé’s leading position in the dynamic and growing global coffee market,” said David Rennie, head of Nestlé Coffee Brands. “With the well-known Seattle’s Best Coffee brand, we will continue to build our leadership in coffee by offering consumers more choice for their everyday coffee.”

Since forming the Global Coffee Alliance in 2018, Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestlé and Seattle, Washington-based Starbucks have brought a wide range of premium coffee products to new markets at a fast pace – including whole bean coffee, roast and ground coffee as well as Starbucks capsules for Nespresso and Nescafé Dolce Gusto proprietary systems. Today, Nestlé distributes Starbucks consumer products and foodservice beverages across more than 80 markets outside Starbucks retail stores under the Global Coffee Alliance. The total global sales of Starbucks products distributed by Nestlé in 2021 reached CHF 3.1 billion (approximately USD 3.085 billion).

Through the Global Coffee Alliance, Nestlé and Starbucks will continue to work together closely to develop new, innovative products and go-to market strategies that will amplify the reach and expand the unique experience of the Starbucks brand locally and globally.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2022, subject to respective board and customary regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

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Commenting on the acquisition, Kim Plahn, president of Dunn Brothers Coffee said, “Gala Capital Partners aims to add value through their multi-concept portfolio, applying their deep experience as both a franchisee/operator as well as the franchisor. Having been both a franchisee and a franchisor, they understand what makes for a strong, collaborative, and profitable business for both. We’re excited for the opportunity to continue to build the Dunn Brothers brand with them.”

Costa Mesa, California-based Gala Capital Partners not only provides the capital but also the know-how needed to improve and expand operations, allowing founders and management teams to take their organizations to the next level. Gala’s philosophy focuses on the success and profitability of the franchisee while investing in franchise development, menu development, technology, marketing, and other infrastructure to strengthen and accelerate brands, such as MOOYAH Burgers and CiCi’s Pizza.

“We believe Dunn Brothers is the best-kept secret in the coffee segment and we look forward to working with the management team and franchise partners to bring this great product and brand to the rest of the world,” said Anand Gala, founder and managing partner of Gala Capital Partners. He added that he and his team are excited to connect with the Dunn Brothers system to build upon their current success and accelerate growth.

The announcement comes as Dunn Brothers Coffee celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Dunn Brothers Coffee was started in St Paul, MN in 1987 and has 59 franchised locations in seven states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Texas, and Missouri.

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It follows Liverpool’s majority acquisition in September last year of long-standing, Australian owned and run, Seven Miles Coffee Roasters – a national, specialty roaster with operations in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Orange and Wollongong.

Both Padre Coffee and Seven Miles Coffee Roasters will continue to operate as separate brands within Liverpool’s portfolio, but under a newly formed umbrella organisation called Seven Miles Coffee Company (7MCC). Led by current Seven Miles Coffee Roasters CEO Jenny Willits, 7MCC will provide leadership oversight and develop a broader growth strategy for both Padre Coffee and Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, plus their line up of local and national coffee blends.

Jenny Willits explained: “Seven Miles Coffee Roasters and Padre Coffee have both long shared a passion for the pursuit of exceptional coffee, backed by a focus on sustainability. Our customer-centric and people-focused approach, teamed with our combined capabilities will undoubtedly create an exceptional, curated line up of specialty and premium coffees, that goes well beyond the Seven Miles heartland of NSW, ACT and QLD.

“Importantly, coming together under the umbrella of 7MCC will also showcase how much our brands complement each other within the marketplace to foster growth. Ultimately, it provides an Australian owned, Australian run coffee group that is focused on enabling customers to grow and thrive through exceptional coffee, service and training.”

To ensure a smooth transition into 7MCC, founder and director of Padre Coffee, Marinus Jansen, will remain at the helm of the business while director of coffee, Fay Kamanis, will also remain on an ongoing basis. Ken Cowan will leave his role as Director at Padre Coffee following completion of the acquisition, but will remain a consultant to the brand as it moves into its next phase of growth.

Marinus Jansen said: “At the heart of our company is our people, and we’ve always been committed to building a workplace culture that supports personal development, collaboration and teamwork. The investment by Liverpool, teamed with the opportunity to work side by side with a leading business like Seven Miles Coffee Roasters under the stewardship of 7MCC, will enable us to continue this focus while further expanding our business – in the right way.

“Both the Padre and Seven Miles brands believe in quality produce, sustainability, and fostering long-term committed relationships throughout the supply chain, making us the perfect bedfellows. We anticipate great things will come from this new relationship for both our people, and the broader industry.”

Liverpool Partners managing partner, Jonathan Lim said the Padre Coffee acquisition was an exciting addition to its burgeoning coffee portfolio, having also invested in the Australian Beverage Corporation, one of Australia’s leading coffee equipment and service providers last year.

“Padre Coffee is a thriving business, and its focus on ethical, sustainable growth while raising the bar across all that it does, fits perfectly with the approach taken by the other coffee businesses within our portfolio,” he said. “We are excited about the prospect of further growth for both Padre Coffee and Seven Miles Coffee Roasters under the new 7MCC led by Jenny Willits. It will no doubt result in the most outstanding suite of coffee products in Australia.”

Further details about the structure of 7MCC will be announced in coming months.

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Dripkit will now operate as a new Dripkit Coffee business division of NuZee, which NuZee believes will permit it to scale operations, reach more consumers and accelerate growth. Dripkit offers a large-size single serve pour over format that delivers what it believes to be a barista-quality coffee experience to coffee drinkers in the United States. The brand has combined its focus on convenience and quality, as well as a goal of using first-rate, ethically sourced coffee beans, to become a leader in the single serve coffee category.

Transaction highlights, according to the company, include:

• Brand awareness: Dripkit is highly recognised in the single serve pour over coffee category based in Brooklyn, New York. The acquisition immediately provides NuZee with access to Dripkit’s loyal customer base and is expected to heighten NuZee’s brand profile.
• Product portfolio leadership: The Dripkit pack sits on top of the cup and projects to command a premium price point in the market. Each Dripkit pack produces a 10oz cup, using 17g of coffee.
• Shared purpose-driven values: Dripkit shares NuZee’s commitment to sustainability by aiming for responsible and ethically sourced products that can enable mindful, responsible consumption for the consumers by brewing one cup at a time.
• Leadership addition: Ilana Kruger, Dripkit’s founder and CEO, will join the NuZee team to facilitate a smooth integration and help to further grow the business.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Dripkit to our brand portfolio. Ilana has done a great job building Dripkit into a brand loved by many coffee drinkers as well as many coffee industry experts. We believe she has successfully cultivated a loyal and diverse customer base,” said Masa Higashida, president and CEO of NuZee. “This acquisition is expected to benefit both NuZee and Dripkit’s customers, as well as our partners giving all of us an opportunity to scale operations and grow together. We look forward to expanding this growth and broadening our capabilities through our resources.”

Serving as a private label and co-packer for a variety of roasters, Dripkit’s large-size pour over format will be an addition to NuZee’s portfolio of innovative single serve pour over and tea bag style coffee brew bags.

“NuZee’s resources, capabilities, and continued commitment to sustainability are exactly what the Dripkit brand needs to further catapult its growth and success,” said Ilana Kruger, founder and CEO of Dripkit. “Part of our process has always been to pack and seal our products by hand, as this led to a standard that we knew would make us proud. However, after seeing NuZee’s facilities and witnessing the team’s attention to detail and individual product care, we were immediately impressed with the overall quality and are excited to see our Dripkit brand thrive amid this transition.”

NuZee has acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain specified liabilities of Dripkit for total consideration of approximately $860,000 in cash and stock. The signing of the asset purchase agreement was previously disclosed on 22 February 2022.

For more information on NuZee, visit: www.mynuzee.com.

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“Cablevey’s focus on solving conveyance application challenges using our proprietary cable drag technology, and the resulting dramatic growth has positioned the company as an anchor asset to build a larger conveyance platform,” said Cablevey CEO Gary Hall. “The additional investments now possible with May River allow us to continue to increase market share with existing and top tier customers in our core food and beverage sectors, including tree nuts, coffee and pet food, as well as expand in other growth markets like pharmaceuticals.”

“Gary and I could not be happier for the employees, the Oskaloosa, Iowa, community and customers of Cablevey, and we are thrilled to partner with the May River team,” said Cablevey president Phil Hall. “We look forward to further building upon Cablevey’s 50-plus year history of developing and bringing new product innovations to market, such as our new 8” drag conveyance system that adds tremendous value to those who rely on Cablevey to deliver clean, fast and cost-effective conveying solutions.”

“It’s truly a privilege and opportunity to lead a business like Cablevey and the dedicated Cablevey team,” explained Brad Sterner, who will succeed Gary Hall as Cablevey CEO. “Gary, Phil and I are looking forward to working through the transition as we collectively turn our attention to the next phase of the company’s growth.” Sterner will continue as executive chairman of Advanced Material Processing (AMP), a May River “sister” platform specialising in material processing equipment for regulated end markets. This “sister” relationship will offer potential synergies with Cablevey that include many shared customers in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical end-markets.

“We are excited about the specialty conveyance sector and attractive high growth end markets served by Cablevey and the highly complementary AMP process equipment platform,” explained May River partner Steve Griesemer. “As the handling and process industries continue to expand, leading end users in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical verticals seek to align with innovative partners that can be counted upon to deliver market-leading solutions. Cablevey will serve as a strong foundation within the material handling segment for delivering high-impact solutions to these global, blue-chip customers.”

Hall said the timing of the announcement is meaningful, as the acquisition closed on 22 December, the exact date of the company’s 50th anniversary.

“Achieving such a significant milestone serves as a reminder of our commitment to our employees, customers and community,” added Hall. “In fact, Cablevey will continue to operate in Oskaloosa and contribute to our local Mahaska County economy as we have every day for the past 50 years.”

Winston & Strawn served as legal counsel to May River. NCP Inc served as financial advisor and Belin McCormick served as legal counsel to Cablevey Conveyors and its shareholders.

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SAS, located in Beerse near Turnhout, has a turnover of around €35 million with around 100 employees. SAS specialises in the production of a wide range of coffee products. In addition to the 1kg and 250g packages, it also produces capsules, pods, sachets, coffee filters, etc. The focus is on the private label market, especially retail. SAS also owns a wholesale coffee business that operates in the greater Kempen region.

Frans Van Tilborg, CEO of the Miko Group, said: “SAS is a fellow roaster with whom we have been working for many years for some specialty coffee products. It is a highly respected player in the retail market. While Miko has historically focused on the out-of-home market, businesses, restaurants and institutions, SAS has long had a strong position in retail. Thus, we create a beautiful complementarity.

“We intend to build a brand new roasting plant next to the highway in Turnhout. This new building is located 5 km from the current site of Miko, and 9 km from SAS. An ideal base for all our staff. With the acquisition of SAS, the volumes we roast and package will more than double. As a result, we can quickly move towards a healthy operation of the capacity of our new building. It is a great synergy between our companies in Campine. We believe the new building will be fully operational within three years.”

Dominic Sas of SAS adds: “We are pleased to be welcomed by our neighbour and fellow roaster Miko. When Miko conceived the project to create a new roasting plant, we seemed predestined to talk to each other and find an agreement. During all these years when we have been neighbors, we have shown mutual respect for the professionalism of each other and especially for the equally strong family values of each other. We are proud that SAS is in the safe and warm hands of Miko.”

The purchase price agreed in connection with the transaction was set at 6.5 x SAS’s (consolidated) EBITDA of approximately €1.9 million.

In May this year, Miko announced that it had sold its plastic packaging division to German company PACCOR. In July, it acquired 92% of the Dutch company Maas, a leading specialist in vending solutions.

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“We are excited to welcome NDC Technologies’ nearly 300 employees into the Nordson family. They will bring exciting new capabilities and expertise to our test and inspection platform,” said Jeffrey Pembroke, executive vice president, Nordson Advanced Technology Solutions. “NDC’s customer-centric business model, differentiated technology and end markets make it a very Nordson-like business. This acquisition is further progress on our Nordson Ascend Strategy to achieve top-tier growth with leading margins and returns. We look forward to applying the NBS Next growth framework and investing in NDC’s greatest opportunities for profitable growth.”

Marti Nyman, president of NDC Technologies, added: “We are very excited to join the Nordson family. It’s a great fit. The combination will afford us the opportunity to continue to build on our 50-plus years foundation of delivering innovative measurement and process control solutions to the industries we serve. NDC has a rich history of working closely with industry to solve some of the most challenging gauging applications. The NDC Technologies’ team is eager to enter this new chapter with Nordson, furthering our mission of transforming process operations around the world, delivering value and making a difference in people’s lives every day.”

NDC Technologies is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio and its technology portfolio includes in-line and off-line measurement systems using near-infrared, laser, X-ray, optical and nucleonic technologies, as well as proprietary process control and analytics software. These precision applications enable manufacturers to enhance production processes, increase productivity, boost process efficiencies and make the highest quality products – to ultimately deliver peace of mind. NDC also expands Nordson’s test and inspection platform beyond electronics into new end markets, including consumer non-durable, film extrusion and converting, cable and tubing and energy storage. Visit NDC Technologies at: www.ndc.com.

Nordson Corporation is a global designer and manufacturer of innovative precision technologies for critical customer applications in consumer non-durable, medical, electronics and industrial end markets. The Company’s products are supported by application expertise and direct global sales and service. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the Company has operations and support offices in over 35 countries. Visit Nordson on the web at www.nordson.com.

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Furthermore, Coca-Cola HBC and Caffè Vergnano will enter into an exclusive distribution agreement for Caffè Vergnano’s products in Coca-Cola HBC’s territories outside of Italy (together, the “Proposed Transaction”). CCH Holdings will be represented on the board of directors of Caffè Vergnano and have customary minority decision-making and governance rights. Financial details of the Proposed Transaction were not disclosed.

Caffè Vergnano is a family-owned Italian coffee company headquartered in Santena, Italy. It is one of the oldest coffee roasters in Italy with roots dating back to 1882. Its product offering consists of truly premium, high-quality coffee that represents Italian heritage and authenticity at its best. Caffè Vergnano’s portfolio includes traditional espresso in various blends, packages, and formats such as beans, roast and ground coffee and single portioned pods. In 2020, the company sold approximately 7,000 tonnes of coffee in more than 90 countries worldwide.

The Proposed Transaction represents an important milestone in Zug, Switzerland-based Coca-Cola HBC’s vision of being the leading 24/7 beverage partner across its markets. Caffè Vergnano is highly complementary to its existing Costa Coffee proposition and will allow Coca-Cola HBC to address an even wider range of consumer tastes and segments. Furthermore, the partnership will increase Coca-Cola HBC’s relevance with its customers within the most attractive segments of the coffee category, while providing Caffè Vergnano with significant expansion potential through Coca-Cola HBC’s leading route to market network and commercial capabilities.

“We are grateful for the trust being placed in us by the Vergnano family and are excited by the opportunities ahead with this terrific brand. With Caffè Vergnano, we are well positioned to build a total coffee portfolio that caters for a diverse range of consumer preferences,” said Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO, Coca-Cola HBC. “We are respectful of the company’s 140-year history and the dedication and passion of the four generations that created such a rich and renowned coffee brand, synonymous with the authentic Italian coffee experience. Our investment in Caffè Vergnano is aligned with The Coca-Cola Company as we have worked together on this opportunity.”

Franco Vergnano, CEO, and Carlo Vergnano, chairman of the board of directors of Caffè Vergnano, commented, “We are very pleased to welcome Coca-Cola HBC as our new strategic partner to help accelerate our growth ambitions and support the journey of our brands outside our home market. By combining Coca-Cola HBC’s expertise, know-how and critical mass, with our heritage coffee brand, great products and deep knowledge of the industry, we are confident this will prove a powerful partnership in growing our business further.”

Coca-Cola HBC is a strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company, which, with its customers serves more than 600 million consumers across a broad geographic footprint of 28 countries on three continents. Its portfolio is one of the broadest in the beverage industry, offering brands in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, plant-based, ready-to-drink tea, coffee, adult sparkling, and premium spirits categories. These brands include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Schweppes, Kinley, Costa Coffee, Valser, Romerquelle, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade, FuzeTea, Dobry, Cappy, Monster and Adez.

For more information, visit: www.coca-colahellenic.com.

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Founded in Sydney in 2002, Campos Coffee is available in over 600 cafés and present in multiple channels including direct-to-consumer, retail, and its own flagship cafés. Over the years, the Campos team has built a strong and growing business which complements JDE Peet’s Australian coffee business in both the out-of-home and retail segments. General manager, JDE Peet’s Australia & New Zealand, Albert Moncau, said, “The Campos team has built an incredible brand and network across Australia, delivering award winning and consistently outstanding coffee to their customers. The business is a perfect fit for us, and we look forward to welcoming the Campos team to our world of coffee and tea, learning from each other’s expertise, and building on their award-winning coffee experience.”

The founder of Campos, Will Young, added, “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved from our humble beginnings on the streets of Newtown in Sydney. The transaction will enable the Campos brand to further unlock its true potential. JDE Peet’s has become Australia’s leading pure-play coffee business by respecting the heritage and uniqueness of local coffee brands. We are confident that Campos can and will continue to grow under their stewardship by continuing to focus on what made us Australia’s number one specialty coffee brand – high quality coffee and great service to our café partners.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but pending limited pre-closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed during July 2021.

JDE Peet’s portfolio in Australia includes L’OR, Moccona, Harris, Piazza Doro, Espresso Di Manfredi, Two Seasons and Pickwick. In 2020, JDE Peet’s generated total sales of EUR €6.7 billion (USD $8.04 billion).

In 2020, Campos generated revenues of approximately AUD $50 million (approximately USD $38 million) and expanded its availability offering premium whole bean blends online and in selected Woolworth’s supermarkets.

For more information, visit: www.jdepeets.com or www.camposcoffee.com.

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The new company will be an addition to Synergy, Carbery’s international flavours business. Acquiring Innova brings a new range of savoury solutions to customers who partner with Synergy on the creation and growth of their product portfolios. Known in the US for its sweet flavours, extracts and essences, this strategic purchase expands the savoury capabilities of Synergy US and complements Synergy’s offerings worldwide.

“Our primary purpose is to add value for our farmer shareholders”, comments TJ Sullivan, chairman of Carbery Group. “Through a series of acquisitions in the UK, the USA, Europe, South America and Asia, we have successfully built Synergy, our international flavours business. This new acquisition brings new opportunities with customers and markets that will strengthen the returns across our whole business.”

Jason Hawkins, CEO of Carbery Group, commented” “Our business was resilient throughout Covid-19, Brexit and the challenges of the last few years. Stability is important for us, but we also need to consider strategic opportunities for us to grow, to strengthen our offerings for our customers and maximize what we can deliver for our shareholders. Acquiring Innova Flavors will enhance our business in the US, but also in Asia and Central and South America. The deal will bring opportunities right across our platforms of Dairy, Taste and Nutrition.”

Innova supplies customised savoury flavours and ingredients to customers around the world. The company’s manufacturing facilities are based in the Chicago area, as is the HQ of Synergy US.

“This acquisition offers significant benefits to Synergy customers by providing them access to a proven range of flavours to meet the growing demand for natural flavorings and savoury ingredients, and these products complement Synergy’s current offerings”, comments Rod Sowders, president and CEO of Synergy Flavors Americas. “In addition, our global footprint and history of investment in acquisitions will allow Innova customers to benefit from the deep flavour expertise and global reach of our organisation.”

For more information on Carbery Group, visit: carbery.com.

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As a leading tea and allied beverage provider, Harris Tea brings over 40 years of experience in both private label and branded beverage offerings. The company’s responsiveness, global tea sourcing expertise, continued investments in innovation, rigorous quality standards, and modern US manufacturing facilities allow it to provide integrated beverage solutions.

Harris Tea maintains a reputation for offering a full-range of teas and other on-trend beverages. In addition, the company has been adept at driving traffic and increasing sales tailored to the cuisine, format and region of the foodservice purveyor.

Harris Tea Foodservice will provide beverage solutions through its private label and specialty brands portfolio. The company’s goal in a rapidly changing post-Covid world is to provide restaurants and distributors the support and innovation required for success.

Ray Borooah, Harris Tea’s CEO stated, “This acquisition will accelerate our efforts to provide competitive tea and allied beverage products for the recovering foodservice industry, as customers seek immediate and innovative solutions.”

In addition to Tetley and Good Earth, Harris Tea Foodservice will offer brands such as Southern Breeze, Ready Sweet, Newman’s Own Organics, Red Rose, Salada, Tea India, Chai Moments, Wonder Drink Kombucha and Secret Squirrel Coffee.

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“Inspire Brands’ acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands will shift the industry’s focus from competition between individual brands to competition between multi-brand owners,” said Alex Jarman, research analyst at London-based global market research firm, Euromonitor International. With Dunkin’ in its portfolio, Inspire will become the second-largest restaurant operator in the United States. Some of its closest competitors will become Yum! Brands and Restaurant Brands International. “Similar to travel groups such as Hilton or IAG, a multi-branded structure allows the use of the most successful parts of each business to grow the entire portfolio,” he said. “Scale is key for this growth strategy and by adding Dunkin’ to its portfolio, Inspire has given all of its brands strong growth potential.”

Commenting on the merger, Dave Hoffmann, CEO of Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ Brands, said, “[This merger] is a testament to our world-class group of franchisees, licensees, employees, and suppliers who have worked together to transform Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins into modern, relevant brands…I am particularly proud of our actions since March of this year. During the global pandemic, we have stood tall. We’ve had each other’s backs and are now stronger than ever. We are excited to bring meaningful value to shareholders who have been with us on this journey and believe that Inspire Brands, a preeminent operator of franchised restaurant concepts, will continue to drive growth for our franchisees while remaining true to all that is unique and special about the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins brands.”

But like many foodservice companies this year, Dunkin’ has struggled during the pandemic. According to Jarman, one of the most immediate benefits of the deal will be the sharing of customer, sales and loyalty data between Inspire and Dunkin’ because this information will be critical to Dunkin’s future success as it continues to navigate consumers’ changing habits due to the pandemic. “Dunkin’s sales suffered earlier this year as many consumers stopped picking up coffee on their morning commute,” he said. “Having access to consumer data from Inspire’s other brands will help Dunkin understand how to reach consumers beyond breakfast and the morning commute.”

In 2018, Dunkin’ Brands announced that Dunkin’ was officially dropping ‘Donuts’ from its name, officially becoming Dunkin’ in January 2019. When announcing the new moniker, the company said, “The name change is one of many steps Dunkin’ is taking to transform itself into the premier beverage-led, on-the-go brand.”

Dunkin’ has had the tagline “America Runs on Dunkin’” for many years despite it not being a true national brand. Dunkin’ continues to open stores throughout the US, but the roll out has been slow. Jarman noted that the digital boost Inspire has given its other brands may help Dunkin’ expand beyond its East Coast stronghold and pose stronger competition against Starbucks in other parts of the country. “Conversely, acquiring Dunkin’ will give Inspire’s international prospects a significant boost. More than 40% of Dunkin’s stores are outside the US and data from those locations could help Inspire further expand its existing brands internationally or even acquire brands based outside the US.”

It will be interesting to see if (and when) Inspire does ramp up Dunkin’s store openings, where they will be – in the US or internationally (or simultaneously) – and what the store concepts will be: regular store formats, smaller footprint units, joint locations with Baskin-Robbins, or a combination of all three.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com
  Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

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Atlanta, Georgia-based Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company with a current portfolio that includes more than 11,000 Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, SONIC Drive-In, and Jimmy John’s restaurants worldwide. With Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ in its portfolio, Inspire will become the second-largest restaurant operator in the United States.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Inspire will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Dunkin’ Brands for $106.50 per share in cash. This represents a premium of approximately 30% to Dunkin’ Brands’ 30-day volume-weighted average price and a premium of approximately 20% per share to Dunkin’ Brands’ closing stock price on 23 October 2020.

“Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins are category leaders with more than 70 years of rich heritage, and together they are two of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world,” said Paul Brown, co-founder and CEO of Inspire Brands. “By joining Inspire, these brands will add complementary guest experiences and occasions to our current portfolio. Further, they will strengthen Inspire through their scaled international platform and robust consumer packaged goods licensing infrastructure, as well as add more than 15 million loyalty members. We are excited to welcome Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins’ employees, franchisees, and suppliers to the Inspire family.”

“[This merger] is a testament to our world-class group of franchisees, licensees, employees, and suppliers who have worked together to transform Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins into modern, relevant brands…I am particularly proud of our actions since March of this year. During the global pandemic, we have stood tall. We’ve had each other’s backs and are now stronger than ever,” said Dave Hoffmann, CEO of Dunkin’ Brands.

“We are excited to bring meaningful value to shareholders who have been with us on this journey and believe that Inspire Brands, a preeminent operator of franchised restaurant concepts, will continue to drive growth for our franchisees while remaining true to all that is unique and special about the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins brands.”

Following the successful completion of the tender offer, which will be subject to certain conditions, Inspire will acquire all remaining shares not tendered in the tender offer through a second-step merger at the same price. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2020.

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“This strategic combination will create the nation’s premier coffee, tea, and extract supplier that is capable of serving the most complex and demanding customers across the country and around the world. We intend to use the scale of the new company to offer the most innovative beverage solutions with competitive pricing to our global clients while simultaneously providing a premium price to our farmer partners at origin. Our unmatched commitment to customer service, product quality, and our industry-leading sustainability and transparent sourcing practices will remain a cornerstone of our business,” said Scott Ford, Westrock Coffee co-founder and CEO of the Little Rock, Arkansas-based company. “Our combined organization will seek to lead the industry with our sustainability program and to accelerate the development of a broadening array of innovative products.”

Westrock Coffee Company will be the parent company. The two operating subsidiaries will be Westrock Coffee Roasting and S&D Coffee & Tea and will continue to serve customers under their respective brand names for the foreseeable future.

Westrock Coffee will remain headquartered in Arkansas, with its recently enlarged roasting and packaging plant in North Little Rock already earmarked for further expansion. Westrock Coffee is one of Walmart Stores’ private label coffee suppliers for its US stores. In fall 2019, Walmart announced that all coffee sourced for Walmart US private brands is now certified sustainable (through third-party certifiers such as Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance/UTZ) — one year ahead of schedule.

The S&D organisation in Concord, North Carolina will continue as a major center of operations with plans to continue expansion of these facilities.

The new company will employ approximately 1,700 people globally and can roast, grind, and package more than 220 million pounds of coffee annually. The company will also continue to be one of the largest tea suppliers in the US and the leading premium extract supplier to global foodservice and consumer product companies.

Ford added, “We are very pleased that following the closing of the transaction, S&D president and CEO Ron Hinson will remain as an advisor to the new, combined organization as chairman emeritus. We value Ron’s extensive industry knowledge and deep relationships amassed over his 41 years at S&D. We admire how S&D has grown and evolved during his tenure as president and CEO.”

“Participating in S&D’s growth and success during the past four decades has been incredible. We achieved industry leadership by innovating to serve our customers. We invested in job and career growth for employees and our community, and I look forward to working with Scott and the newly combined leadership team to see these achievements go even further. The highly complementary product and customer focus S&D brings to Westrock Coffee makes this a terrific event for our business, our employees, and especially our customers,” Hinson said.

In conjunction with the transaction, BBH Capital Partners, a private equity strategy of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., will provide acquisition capital alongside Westrock Coffee’s existing investors, including The Stephens Group, LLC. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisor to Westrock Coffee.

Westrock Coffee is a farmer-focused, fully integrated company providing coffee sourcing and financing, supply chain management, roasting, packaging, and distribution services to customers around the world. The company has offices in seven countries which market coffee from more than 20 origin countries impacting over one million members of smallholder farming households. Through Westrock Coffee’s US based roasting operations, the company roasts, grinds, packages, and delivers branded and private label coffee in bags, fractional packs, and single serve cups.

S&D Coffee & Tea is the largest coffee and tea manufacturer and supplier to restaurants and convenience stores in America. S&D is also a leading producer of liquid extracts. In continuous operation since 1927, the company serves over 110,000 customers through national distribution and direct store delivery.

For more information, visit: westrockcoffee.com and sdcoffeetea.com.

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