The Week in Coffee: 23-29 March 2026

Your weekly round-up of 5 essential coffee industry stories you won’t want to miss... 

• Danone acquires an RTD protein giant for €1bn
• French private equity firm makes second German bakery-café acquisition, plans more
• Chobani to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in La Colombe
• Mixue’s Lucky Cup challenges Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee in China
• Joe & The Juice makes major US market announcement

1. Danone beefs up protein portfolio with €1bn Huel acquisition

Dairy giant Danone has placed its biggest bet yet on the booming protein and functional beverages market after agreeing to acquire UK-based Huel.

Founded in 2014, Huel produces a wide range of plant-based powders, ready-to-drink (RTD) shakes and coffee beverages, snacks, and supplements formulated as meal replacements.

The acquisition will enable the French conglomerate to strengthen its presence in the booming functional nutrition market – a fast-growing category driven by rising consumer demand for premium, health-focused F&B products and broader interest in wellness trends.