United Coffee restructures UK businesses for growth
United Coffee (formerly known as Drie Mollen) is to restructure its UK businesses, bringing together its two British companies, First Choice Coffee and Gala Coffee. The new company will be re-named United Coffee UK and run by a single management team to be led by former First Choice MD, Elaine Higginson.
The move is part of an ambitious expansion programme for Europe’s largest coffee roaster, which will see it increase the size of its business in six countries through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The UK is one of the six; the others are the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and France.
In the UK, First Choice Coffee is already market leader in the out-of-home market, servicing customers across the foodservice and hospitality sector including quick-service retail, restaurants and hotels. Gala is the number one private label coffee company in retail. The companies have operated as separate entities until now. The merger will create one total solutions coffee provider serving both these markets.
Elaine Higginson, Head of United Coffee UK commented: ”We are proud of the success that our UK businesses have achieved to date and believe that this merger will help to enhance the growth of both parts of the business going forward. United Coffee will also be rolling out the First Choice concept across Europe, which will further strengthen the brand across the Continent. We look forward to continuing to service our loyal customers and grow United Coffee across the UK.”
About United Coffee
Headquartered in Geneva (from June 2010), United Coffee is one of Europe’s largest coffee roasters, producing and distributing a wide range of coffee, coffee equipment and related services through retail and out-of–home distribution channels. From its beginnings in 1818, United Coffee now employs 800 people and roasts over 50,000 tons of coffee per year. Backed by mid-market private equity fund, CapVest, United Coffee is 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, 3.2% within Western European. United Coffee’s clients include: Tesco, Waitrose, Mercadona, Lidl, Superunie, C-1000 and Coop. Its Food Service clients also include: Subway, McDonalds and many thousands of local cafes and restaurants.
For more trade press information, please contact:
Annemarie Penderis / Charlotte Davies
William Murray Communications
Tel: 020 8256 1360
annemarie@williammurray.co.uk / charlotte@williammurray.co.uk
