Groupe SEB has strengthened its presence in the European professional coffee equipment market with the acquisition of La San Marco from the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group. 
 

Founded in Gorizia, Italy, 1920, La San Marco manufactures, markets and distributes professional coffee machines and grinders and holds a patent for its LEVA Class extraction technology.

Ecully-based Groupe SEB said the acquisition would enhance its professional coffee machine portfolio, which currently comprises the Schaerer, WMF and Wilbur Curtis coffee machine brands. 

The agreement will enable it to better pursue ‘strong development ambitions’ within the global professional coffee machine market, the company added. 

Groupe SEB’s professional coffee division generated 15% sales growth to reach €725m ($772m) in 2022, accounting for 10% of the company’s full-year revenues. 

The appliance manufacturer’s professional coffee segment currently comprises the Schaerer, WMF and Wilbur Curtis coffee brands. 

“We are delighted to acquire La San Marco, which will enable Groupe SEB to consolidate its activities in the professional coffee machine segment with recognised historic expertise and a genuinely complementary fit with our existing range. This transaction is in line with the group’s desire to accelerate development in the professional universe, a market enjoying strong and profitable growth,” said Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise, Chairman, Groupe SEB. 

Groupe SEB, which operates 32 small domestic equipment brands across 150 countries, achieved €7.9bn ($8.6bn) revenues in 2022. 

La San Marco generated sales of €19.7m ($21m) during the 12 months ended 30 September 2022. 

Massimo Zanetti, Chairman of de Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, said the sale would enable the Italian coffee company to focus on its core businesses and realise the growth potential of its international brands, including Segafredo Zanetti.