Atomo Coffee recently commenced a retail partnership with New York-based Gumption Coffee | Photo credit: Atomo Coffee
Japanese beverage giant Suntory Holdings has made a multimillion-dollar investment in Seattle-based ‘beanless’ coffee brand Atomo Coffee.
The sum of the investment has not been disclosed. In a press release, Suntory said it ‘sympathises’ with Atomo’s ‘ethical and advanced initiatives in the field of beverages’ and will help facilitate international distribution for the brand in the future.
Atomo’s coffee product is formulated from upcycled date seeds, grape, chicory and tea-sourced caffeine before being roasted and brewed.
The Seattle-based start-up recently announced a retail partnership with New York-based boutique coffee business Gumption Coffee – the first coffee shop to stock and sell the brand.
Atomo is currently building a roasting facility in Seattle and expects the site to begin production by the end of the first quarter next year. Once operational, the facility will be capable of producing four million pounds a year – enough to supply ‘hundreds or thousands of coffee shops’, according to Atomo Coffee CEO Andy Kleitsch.
“We feel that this partnership with the Suntory Group is a major milestone for Atomo Coffee. In addition to gaining recognition for Atomo Coffee’s vision, we believe that our business of delivering sustainable and delicious beverages to customers around the world will be accelerated,” Kleitsch said.
Atomo Coffee previously raised more than $50m through three previous funding rounds, including $40m in a Series A round in June 2022.
Founded in 1899, Suntory Holdings is one of Japan’s oldest beverage groups. Primarily concerned with alcohol brands, the group created the Suntory Beverage and Food Limited subsidiary in April 2009 which manages a diverse portfolio of soft drinks, ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee, tea and energy drinks.
