Coffee News Recap, 5 Sep: illycaffè acquires majority stake in Capitani, Nestlé names Philipp Navratil CEO after Freixe dismissal & other stories

Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the week. Editor’s note This week marks another milestone in coffee acquisitions. Following KDP’s recent US$18bn merger with JDE Peet’s, illycaffè has announce...

2025.09.08

Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the week.

Editor’s note

This week marks another milestone in coffee acquisitions. Following KDP’s recent US$18bn merger with JDE Peet’s, illycaffè has announced its 80% stake in single-serve coffee machine manufacturer Capitani.

CEO Cristina Scocchia emphasised that this investment reflects illycaffè’s ongoing transition from a traditional roasted coffee brand to a holistic solutions company. Looking more broadly, it’s also a strategic move to strengthen the company’s reliance on European supply chain partners, as US tariffs and volatile market prices continue to disrupt global coffee trade.

Nestlé, meanwhile, axed CEO Laurent Freixe with immediate effect after a misconduct investigation, replacing him with Philipp Navratil. This decision comes at a critical time for the multinational, as KDP’s and JDE Peet’s new Global Coffee Co. positions itself as a direct challenger.

The branded global coffee industry is undergoing further transformation. Under new leadership, Nestlé has an opportunity to strengthen its branding as new coffee powerhouses threaten to topple its market position. At the same time, illycaffè demonstrates how strategic investments can help navigate economic challenges, and other companies may follow suit.

A Luckin Coffee sign next to a row of drinks syrups..

Industry news

Mon, 1 Sep – SCA announces board candidates and appoints second vice president. The nominating committee proposed Emi-Beth Aku Quantson, Rob Stephen, and Daryanto Witarsa for three open seats. The board also appointed Jiyoon Han as second vice president. The final ballot was announced on 13 October, and member voting runs from 1 to 30 November. (Irvine, California, US)

Mon, 1 Sep – Tchibo posts strong 2024 earnings, but warns on 2025 outlook. Increased footfall across European shops lifted full-year revenue and delivered triple-digit EBIT growth. However, management flagged a weaker 2025 income outlook as record-high green coffee costs squeeze margins and prompt caution. (Hamburg, Germany)

Tue, 2 Sep – Chagee hires ex-Starbucks and Dutch Bros executives to back US expansion. Net revenues rose 10.2% in Q2, but GAAP net income fell 87.7% as share-based compensation and higher operating costs compressed margins. The group, which opened a Los Angeles outlet in April, appointed senior hires to scale its North America rollout. (Shanghai, China)

Tue, 2 Sep – Aachen University retrofits espresso machine for Industry 4.0 training. A Quickmill unit was equipped with PID control, pump programming, scale integration, and energy monitoring, all connected via MQTT, to demonstrate low-cost IoT applications for SMEs at trade fairs and training. (Aachen, Germany).

Wed, 3 Sep – Caribou appoints Scott Kennedy as CEO. Previously the CFO and interim CEO since March 2025, Kennedy joined from Target, where he held senior roles, including President of Financial & Retail Services. His mandate is to accelerate growth and enhance the guest experience across Caribou’s network of over 800 coffeehouses within Panera Brands. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

Wed, 3 Sep – Venturi highlights Pickup Coffee in its track record. Venturi closed Fund II first close at US$150mn toward a US$225mn target, planning US$15–40mn investments in consumer firms across India and Southeast Asia. Fund I included Pickup Coffee, underscoring the firm’s focus on scaling coffee retail and adjacent foodservice. (Dubai, UAE)

Wed, 3 Sep – Electrolux Professional pivots coffee production for efficiency. As part of a SEK 175 million annual savings plan, the group is evaluating the relocation of coffee equipment production from Carros to Aubusson in France. The move, impacting around 40 roles, aims to sharpen competitiveness and support a broader strategic shift toward digitalisation and enhanced sales and marketing. (Stockholm, Sweden)

Thu, 4 Sep – Knoops appoints former Game Group CEO Martin Long as CFO. Long, who joined the premium drinking chocolate brand earlier this year as a non-executive director, now fills the chief financial officer role, succeeding Lorraine Dunbar after over five years. The move supports the chain’s global scale-up plans. (London, UK)

Thu, 4 Sep – De’Longhi labels coffee machines as computers to avoid US tariffs. A marketing campaign rebrands smart features as computing functions, allowing models to qualify for a US tariff exemption that applies to devices processing data, thereby helping the firm sidestep an estimated 15% duty and protect retail prices. (Treviso, Italy)

Fri, 5 Sep – Clare Clough steps down as Pret A Manger UK & Europe managing director. Clough leaves after four months in the newly created role, adding about 100 continental European stores to her UK remit. Her 15-year Pret career included chief food and coffee officer, leading vegetarian and vegan menu development. No successor has been named. (London, UK)

Fri, 5 Sep – Russia’s Coffee Like names Alexey Chizhov as CEO. Former A.K. Russia LLC managing director Alexey Chizhov joins less than a year after investment firm The Invellect Group acquired the coffee-to-go franchise. His mandate includes scaling the national network and accelerating post-acquisition integration. (Moscow, Russia)

Fri, 5 Sep – Starbucks deploys AI to streamline inventory counts. Stores in North America will utilise handheld tablets powered by NomadGo, which are equipped with advanced technology to speed up inventory counts. This allows for inventory checks to occur up to eight times more frequently. Starbucks says product availability, such as oat milk and cold foam, will improve as a result, and staff will be able to focus more on customer service. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Coffee in a glass mug on a Keurig machine.

Businesses for Sale

Tue, 2 Sep – JDE Peet’s ends share buyback programme amid KDP takeover bid. The coffee group halted its €250mn repurchase plan after acquiring 5,477,094 shares at an average price of €20.73 each, totalling €113.5mn. The decision coincides with Keurig Dr Pepper’s all-cash acquisition offer, which comes at a substantial premium. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Wed, 3 Sep – Black Rock Coffee Bar aims to raise US$265mn in IPO amid cost pressures. The drive-thru chain’s New York IPO could value it near US$861mn. The prospectus cites more than 150 outlets across seven states and warns that higher arabica prices, tariffs, and dairy costs could hit margins. (Scottsdale, Arizona, US)

Thu, 4 Sep – Yum China expands buyback plan and reaffirms Lavazza coffee partnership. The company will repurchase approximately US$270mn more in 2025, adding to earlier programmes, and highlights its Lavazza collaboration to develop coffee concepts in China. Management says capital returns will sit alongside continued investment in its restaurant and coffee businesses. (Shanghai, China)

Fri, 5 Sep – Keurig Dr Pepper schedules investor update on JDE Peet’s acquisition. The event, scheduled for 27 October, will focus on strategies for value creation from the acquisition, including cost-saving efficiencies, and the planned separation into two companies. (New York City, New York, US)

New launch

Mon, 1 Sep – KDP collaborates with Florence by Mills Coffee to attract Gen Z sales. The partnership will launch two new K-Cup blends: Berries & Crème, inspired by the actress’ wedding cake, and Mindful Moments, with notes of English toffee, chocolate, and hazelnut. KDP will also introduce an exclusive K-Iced brewer, aimed at younger consumers seeking fun coffee experiences. (Burlington, Massachusetts, US)

Mon, 1 Sep – ZUS Coffee opens heritage-themed outlet at Kasturi Walk. The new store at Central Market features a Nas Suha mural on its restored façade, which underwent structural repairs and pest control treatment. The launch includes mural-inspired merchandise and the Ngupi Instant range for Merdeka. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Tue, 2 Sep – Costa Express launches a new digital-first automated coffee concept. Unity Coffee, the company responsible for Costa Coffee’s network of self-serve coffee machines, plans to install over 500 units in retail, travel, leisure, and educational venues. They will utilise a FinTech platform for mobile ordering, dynamic pricing, and personalised loyalty programmes. The menu will include espresso, specialty drinks, matcha, and plant-based milk options. (London, UK)

Wed, 3 Sep – Korea’s Twosome Place unveils new premium café concept. The “Twosome 2.0 Gangnam” store features modern design and upscale menu offerings, reinforcing the chain’s dessert-café identity and appealing to trend-conscious customers. (Seoul, South Korea)

Wed, 3 Sep – Franke unveils the Mytico line. Launched in the “BeyondTraditional” category, the Mytico Due and Mytico Vario models feature dual coffee modules, touchscreens, iQFlow extraction, automatic cleaning, a low-profile design, and customisable side panels. The line has received numerous awards, including iF Design Gold and the German Design Award. (Aarburg, Switzerland)

Thu, 4 Sep – GCP publishes RegenCoffee framework for regenerative agriculture. The guidance provides a unified, farmer-centric language that defines objectives, principles, and KPIs to align the sector around regenerative practices. The organisation emphasises that it’s not a certification, but rather a shared framework intended to support a scalable transition, inform existing codes, and reduce greenwashing. (Bonn, Germany)

Thu, 4 Sep – The Miners Specialty Coffee opens its first outlet in Amsterdam. The Czech specialty coffee roaster and café chain has expanded into the Netherlands, capitalising on Amsterdam’s growing coffee scene. (Amsterdam, Netherlands).

Thu, 4 Sep – Blueprint Coffee unveils bold new interactive packaging. The roaster redesigned its signature vibrant blue bags, introducing sleek graphics and an interactive card-based label system that engages customers and enhances their connection to the story and origins of their coffee. (St. Louis, Missouri, US)

Fri, 5 Sep – Japan’s Bread, Espresso & to open an outlet in Taiwan. The premium bakery-café, famed for its cube-shaped mou bread, will mark its second international opening of 2025 in October after a US debut earlier in the year, entering Taipei through a strategic local partnership. (Taipei, Taiwan)

Fri, 5 Sep – Meridia launches EUDR test profile v1.08. The platform’s latest EUDR test profile introduces a powerful new geometry compliance test designed to help users identify and fix farm plot geometry issues before submitting to the EUDR Information System. This ensures smoother uploads by flagging critical risks, such as self-intersections and duplicate vertices. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

Milestone

Tue, 2 Sep – India’s Blue Tokai secures US$25mn for international expansion plans. The round will support expansion in Japan and the UAE, strengthen back-end infrastructure, and increase total investment since 2023 to more than US$90mn. Over the next four years, Blue Tokai aims to open 800 stores. (New Delhi, India)

Trade & production

Mon, 1 Sep – Coffee faces five traceability hurdles under EUDR. Key challenges in the coffee industry include fragmented supply chains, smallholder farms located in remote areas, the need for trust among stakeholders, limitations in detecting shaded crops, and varying levels of preparedness among stakeholders. Larger companies typically have an advantage over smaller ones in meeting EU due diligence regulations. (Brussels, Belgium)

Mon, 1 Sep – Expocacer reports expressive cut in GHG emissions. The Cerrado cooperative reported that it has reduced Scope 1–3 greenhouse gas emissions year-over-year by improving energy efficiency, deploying photovoltaic power, and promoting regenerative practices. An Imaflora study found that some member farms have achieved net-negative emissions, and Expocacer plans to scale up regenerative hectares. (Patrocínio, Brazil)

Mon, 1 Sep – Brazil holds off retaliation over US tariffs affecting coffee and other products. President Lula said negotiations will be prioritised while the trade ministry examines a reciprocity law. Coffee is among products hit by the higher US duty, which could disrupt exports and complicate private-sector talks with US buyers ahead of a CNI-led delegation to Washington. (Brasília, Brazil).

Tue, 2 Sep – Vietnam aims to boost processed coffee exports. Last month, exports exceeded US$560mn, increasing first-half receipts to approximately US$3.6bn, a 20% year-over-year rise. The industry calls for more investment in roasting and instant processing to capture higher value as global prices climb. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Wed, 3 Sep – Coffee futures fall on improved Brazilian weather. ICE arabica fell over 4% at the reopening as rain in Minas Gerais eased crop concerns, while London Robusta dropped nearly 5%. A weaker real and harvest progress added pressure, with traders awaiting crop and export reports. (London, UK)

Thu, 4 Sep – Uganda poised to capture demand after US tariff on Brazilian coffee. Traders are redirecting orders toward African suppliers, boosting interest in Ugandan robusta and opening short-term export opportunities. Exporters warn that scaling processing, logistics, and quality control will determine lasting gains. (Kampala, Uganda)

Fri, 5 Sep – ICO I-CIP jumps nearly US 100 cents in August, reversing five-month decline. The ICO Composite Indicator Price rose by 14.6% in July, averaging US 297.05 cents per pound. Daily prices jumped from US 249.12 cents/lb to a peak of US 344.64 cents/lb. Contributing factors include a 50% US tariff on Brazilian coffee, stockpiling for the EUDR deadline, frost damage, and aggressive buying by roasters. (London, UK)

Fri, 5 Sep – Brazilian coffee growers warn of market loss amid 50% US tariffs. Brokers have reported a significant slowdown in the pace of negotiations, despite strong production levels projected at 55.67 million 60kg bags this year. Traders are concerned that exports to the US may soon become unviable. Some stocks are being held back in hopes of tariff reversals, and buyers are increasingly shifting their interest toward Colombia and Mexico. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research

Wed, 3 Sep – Specialty-grade instant coffee gains traction as quality and convenience converge. Improved freeze-drying techniques and single-origin offerings attract third-wave roasters, with the global market projected to grow 5.2% annually through 2028. (New York City, New York, US)

Thu, 4 Sep – Global nitro coffee market poised for growth, projected to reach US$5.8bn by 2030. Starbucks leads the segment, with cold brew and nitro varieties driving a 42% surge in US cold coffee consumption since 2020. The trend emphasises convenience and premiumisation in ready-to-drink formats. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Fri, 5 Sep – Novel antidiabetic molecules identified in roasted arabica. A Kunming Institute of Botany team isolated three new diterpene esters, caffaldehydes A–C, from roasted arabica; compounds showed α-glucosidase inhibition stronger than acarbose. Identification used 1D NMR and LC-MS/MS, suggesting roasted coffee holds bioactive molecules with antidiabetic potential. (Kunming, China)

Attendees at booths at the 2024 Slow Coffee Festival in Bucharest, Romania.

Events & competitions

Mon, 1 Sep – Slow Coffee Festival announces full event programme for 3 to 5 October. Over 50,000 visitors are expected, with a space ten times larger than previous editions. Exhibitors will local and regional roasters and other brands, including Meron, Mabo, Cafelito Coffee, Gota, Artisan Green Bean, Pain Plaisir, Dulcinella, and more. The event will also host the 2025 Romanian AeroPress Championship, the Craft Chocolate Zone, and an interactive coffee washing station. (Bucharest, Romania)

Tue, 2 Sep – The Barista League North America confirms judging panel. The event on 11 September in Montreal will feature competitions, workshops, and a roasters’ village. Judges include Morgan Eckroth, Jonathan Gagné, Ply Pasarj, Carolina Rodriguez, and Brahim Djiddah, bringing expertise in competition, roasting, and digital storytelling. (Montreal, Canada)

Wed, 3 Sep – Ljubljana Coffee Festival reveals 2025 lineup. The two-day event at the City Museum of Ljubljana, scheduled for 20 & 21 September, will feature tastings, Roasters Village, workshops, the Barista Battle Challenge and a latte art throwdown, and a panel discussion with Carolyne Lane, Liz Escobar, Patrik Rolf, and Morten Munchow. (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Thu, 4 Sep – Thermoplan previews HostMilano 2025 innovations. The Swiss company plans to unveil new coffee machines combining smart technologies, automation and premium design, with live demonstrations and exclusive previews at stand Hall 8P, B23/C24. (Weggis, Switzerland)

Thu, 4 Sep – Highest-scoring at 2025 CoE Taiwan sells for US$180/lb. The honey Gesha lot from Chi Tsai Liu Li Mountain Fresh Café scored 91.08 points. A consortium comprising Y&M Coffee, Ever Rich D.F.S., JC Coffee, and the Bean Super Auction Team purchased almost 100lbs for over US$17,897. (Taipei, Taiwan)

Fri, 5 Sep – Expo Café Uruguay will take place on 6 & 7 September. The two-day event will feature a trade exhibition, workshops, lectures, tastings, and competitions, including the national AeroPress and Latte Art championships, organised by Buen Café Company to connect national and international professionals and promote Uruguay’s specialty sector. (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Fri, 5 Sep – HostMilano to launch interactive “Host Talks – Beyond the Cup” at 2025 event. A new discussion series dedicated to coffee innovation, sustainability, and future trends in hospitality will debut in Milan at the upcoming edition, running from 17 to 21 October. (Milan, Italy)

Fri, 5 Sep – Terres de Café to host The Monkeys Party on 13 September. The afterparty event, coinciding with Paris Coffee Show, will be held at the Beaumarchais location, and will feature food, wine, coffee cocktails, and a DJ set. (Paris, France)

Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:

Wed, 27 Sep – Kenya’s Java House marks 100-store milestone. The Nairobi chain became East Africa’s largest branded coffee group, with an Express outlet in Kampala. The smaller format targets on-the-go customers and joins Express sites in Najjera and Muyenga. Ownership changed in January 2025 after acquisition by Alterra Capital and Phatisa. (Kampala, Uganda)

Fri, 29 Aug – Black Sheep Coffee secures significant UK franchise milestone. More than 150 new store commitments were signed under multi-unit development agreements, including an exclusive territory in Surrey that requires a minimum of 17 openings. The chain reported 25% same-store sales growth in the first half of the year and is expanding into Florida, US. (London, UK)

Photo credits: Slow Coffee Festival