Paris, 2nd September 2010 - download as PDF here
United Coffee announces the purchase of Cafés Pivard
September 2nd, 2010 - United Coffee, one of Europe's largest independent coffee companies, today announces the purchase of the French coffee group Cafés Pivard. The deal is the first major acquisition for United Coffee since the appointment of CEO Per Harkjaer last August and follows on from two acquisitions in Spain. These deals are in line with the company's strategy of becoming Europe's leading independent supplier of quality coffee and related products through a combination of organic growth and select acquisitions. A new management team has also been put in place with the aim of unifying the various businesses located across Europe. To date the company has reported organic growth of almost 10%.
Located in Valence France, Cafés Pivard is a coffee roaster and producer. It supplies many of the main retail outlets in France, as well as catering for the commercial out-of-home market. The family-owned business was founded in 1926, currently employs 70 people and has recorded significant growth over the last few years.
United Coffee plans to integrate Cafés Pivard with its existing companies in France - Cafés Excella and Campanini. This will create the country's largest private label provider of coffee, as well as one of the biggest suppliers of single portion coffee solutions. United Coffee is also set to benefit from Cafés Pivard's manufacturing plant in Valence. This will serve as United Coffee's main production unit for the French market and will be subject to further investment in the coming months. As a result, capacity is expected to increase to 10,000 tonnes next year.
Following the completion of the transaction, United Coffee remains well positioned to continue implementing its strategy of growing the business across Europe via organic growth and acquisitions.
Commenting on the announcement, Per Harkjaer, United Coffee Group CEO said: "We are very pleased with this transaction as it transforms our prospects across France and will provide United Coffee with a significant presence in Europe's second largest coffee market. We look forward to working with our new colleagues and building on their success to date at Cafés Pivard with an even greater focus on investment, innovation and the development of the out-of-home business unit."
Vincent Pivard, President of Cafés Pivard for the last 33 years added: "United Coffee is one of the leading coffee companies in Europe and I am confident that this transaction is the best way to continue developing the business, while delivering to our customers the same high quality standards that they have come to expect from us. I am also pleased that the deal will involve the firm's dedicated employees and I look forward to working with United Coffee in my new role as a consultant to the firm."
About United Coffee
From its beginnings in 1818, United Coffee now employs 900 people and roasts over 50,000 tons of coffee per year. Backed by mid-market private equity fund, CapVest, United Coffee is now a leading force across six European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany and the UK and currently purchases 1% of the world's total coffee supplies, 3.2% within Western Europe. United Coffee's clients include: Tesco, Waitrose, Mercadona, Lidl, Superunie, C-1000, Coop and Carrefour. Its Food Service clients include McDonalds and many thousands of local cafes and restaurants.
Media Contacts
France:
Keima
Alix Heriard Dubreuil : +33 1 56 43 44 62
Switzerland:
Cohn & Wolfe Geneva
Victoria Dix/Maria Grupper: +41 22 908 4075
UK, rest of Europe:
Finsbury
Ed Simpkins/Charles Watenphul: +44 (0) 20 7251 3801