Lavazza says the new facility will sharpen its competitive edge in the US | Photo credit: Wolfgang Eckert

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Lavazza has set its sights on further growth in the US retail coffee market, announcing the construction of a new roasting and packing facility. The plans will see an existing Lavazza Professional facility in Pennsylvania extended by 1,000sq ft, with the new 18,000sq ft (1,672sq m) facility enabling the Italian coffee roaster to be more agile in the US market and improve customer service, the company said. The new plant is scheduled to open in October 2021.
 
Currently, Lavazza imports all of its US products from Italy and the new facility will also help the Turin-based coffee roaster achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 by reducing shipping and transport movements.
 
“North America continues to be a strategic growth market for Lavazza Group and opening this facility in the United States will sharpen our competitive edge,” said Davide Riboni, President & CEO BU Americas for Lavazza. “We will more efficiently service our current customers and offer incentives to attract new ones.”
 
“This is a very important step for the Lavazza Group and for its future development in the United States, a country that has always been of fundamental importance to us,” added Eleuterio Quagliarini, Lavazza Group Chief Operations Officer.
 
The US has become an attractive growth market for European coffee roasters over the last 12 months as at-home coffee consumption continues to boom globally. In September 2020, German coffee roaster and coffee chain Tchibo announced plans to sell roast and ground coffee products to US consumers, stating its aim to become a “quality leader” in the US.
 
In April 2021, Italian coffee roasting giant illycaffè announced the appointment of Jack Edwards as President of its North America business as it seeks to grow its share of the opportune US retail coffee market.