11th January 2011 - download as PDF here
United Coffee launches a premium espresso coffee capsule system for the European retail market
United Coffee, one of Europe's largest independent coffee companies, today announces the widespread rollout of a premium, espresso coffee capsule system for the retail market.
This will enable retailers to enter the capsules market which is growing by an estimated 30% a year, by selling their own capsule solution, taking on established players in the European market. In turn, United Coffee aims to use its expertise to become the leading supplier of single portion capsules across the region.
The system, which produces barista quality espresso, will be targeted at the retail market of leading supermarket chains. In the retail space, the system will enable United Coffee's retail clients to enhance their product offerings and build stronger customer relationships by selling the machines and capsules with their own branding and different coffee flavours. Customers will also have the convenience of purchasing the capsules during their regular visits to the supermarket.
The fully automatic, Swiss-designed machines have been extensively tested and successfully introduced in Switzerland. The retail roll-out will be directed at United Coffee's clients in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, the UK and Scandinavia. This will enable United Coffee to further strengthen relationships with its core retail customer base.
Per Harkjaer, United Coffee Group CEO commented:
"The market for high-end espresso capsule systems is being fuelled by demand for premium quality coffee and an overall trend towards convenience. We expect United Coffee's premium espresso capsule system, combined with our strong customer base and experience to have a significant impact on the retail market across Europe."
About United Coffee
From its beginnings in 1818, United Coffee now employs nearly 1,000 people and roasts over 60,000 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 exports per year. The majority of the key retail players in Europe belong to United Coffee's customer base including Tesco, Waitrose, Mercadona, Lidl and Carrefour. United Coffee's out-of-home market division serves 20 million cups per day through 25,000 outlets including McDonalds and many thousands of local cafes and restaurants.
About United Coffee's premium, espresso capsule system, delivering Barista quality coffee at home
- The innovative capsule system and the sophisticated machine were developed by Swiss engineers as one and made to the highest quality.
- Pressure of up to "19 bar" releases the full aroma of the coffee and creates the perfect espresso foam.
- Available in many colours including ruby red and creamy white, the system has won an international red dot award for its focused, pared-down design.
- Features include automatic capsule ejection, selection of water quantity and adjustable cup size.
- Sustainability: The machine consumes less than 0.3 watts per hour due to an automatic standby mode that reduces electricity consumption to a minimum.
- Accessories include a capsule dispenser and a separate milk foaming machine to guarantee the perfect cappuccino/latte macchiato.
Premium Coffee
Eleven different blends of coffee will be offered within airtight sealed capsules to ensure that the coffee reaches the cup as fresh as the moment it was roasted. The coffee contained within the capsules is guaranteed to be 100% certified. Currently 100% UTZ CertifiedTM, but this is flexible in order to meet customer requirements.
The capsules are free of aluminium and can be safely disposed of alongside normal household waste.
Media Contacts
France
Keima
Alix Heriard Dubreuil : +33 1 56 43 44 62 - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Spain
Deva
Anna Perez: +34 91 360 17 20 - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Switzerland and Germany
Cohn & Wolfe
Maria Grupper: +41 22 908 4075 – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
UK and the rest of Europe
Finsbury
Ed Simpkins/Charles Watenphul: +44 (0) 20 7251 3801 - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it