A round-up of the latest major deals from across the global coffee industry, including a sizeable acquisition in the European self-serve coffee market, new investment for one of East Asia’s fastest-growing specialty coffee groups and the potential sale of an Italian coffee roaster giant
Alimentation Couche-Tard set to become one of Europe’s largest coffee players
Circle K parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard is set to massively expand its self-serve coffee reach in Europe following the largest acquisition in its history.
The Canadian petrol station and convenience store giant has acquired Poland’s Żabka Group for $8.7bn, creating one of Europe’s largest self-serve coffee groups.
Major boost for Vietnamese specialty robusta as Every Half attracts new investment
Every Half Coffee Roasters’ goal to promote Vietnamese specialty robusta on the global stage has been given a significant boost with a third successful fundraise in less than two years.
The Ho Chi Minh City-based specialty coffee roaster and café chain has raised $8m in a Series A funding round led by existing investors Openspace Capital and DSG Consumer Partners.
Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group valued at €1.2bn as multiple bidders suggest sale imminent
Italy’s Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group (MZB Group) could soon be under new ownership after its founder, Massimo Zanetti, confirmed the coffee group had attracted interest from half a dozen private equity firms.
The Bologna-based coffee group is currently majority owned by Milan-based private equity firm QuattroR, which acquired an initial 50% stake in the business in April 2024 before increasing its controlling share to more than 70%.
The potential sale follows a financial turnaround for MZB Group, following 27% year-on-year revenue growth and a return to profitability last year.
Serbia’s largest coffee chain enters Bulgaria with café chain acquisition
Serbian specialty coffee group Kafeterija has finalised its first international acquisition, giving it a foothold in neighbouring Bulgaria.
The move comes just over a year after Kafeterija received investment from Bulgarian private equity firm BlackPeak Capital to support expansion across Southeast Europe, and six months after its maiden acquisition of Serbian coffee, casual dining and bar group Loft.
Westrock Coffee and illycaffè forge major US partnership
Trieste-based illycaffè is embarking upon a new phase of growth in the US after announcing a major packaging partnership with Westrock Coffee.
The Italian coffee roaster, which last year said it was exploring local production in the US, will continue to roast coffee for the venture at its Trieste roastery. Arkansas-based Westrock will handle packaging and distribution for the business as part of the multi-year production agreement – with a specific focus on RTD.
Nestlé to expand Nescafé and RTD production in Southeast Asia with major investment
Swiss F&B giant Nestlé has announced plans to build a new multi-million-dollar Nescafé and RTD production facility in Southeast Asia.
The facility, which will be Nestlé’s tenth Nescafé facility in the region, will produce Nescafé instant coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages and is set to be operational in the second half of 2028.
Spain’s Cafento snaps up second Irish coffee roaster
Seven years after acquiring Dublin-based Java Republic, family-owned Spanish coffee roaster, supplier and distributor Cafento has made its second investment in Ireland’s coffee roaster market.
Asturias-based Cafento has acquired Wicklow-based specialty coffee roaster and matcha supplier McCabe’s Coffee, which supplies nearly 500 independent cafés and wholesale clients across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
