illycaffè & JAB Close Licensing Deal for illy-Branded Capsules

On 8 October, illycaffè and JAB, through its Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) platform, announced a trademark licensing agreement for the production and distribution of illy-branded aluminum coffee capsules. JDE will produce the new illycaffè capsule and will make them available on the global market in the first half of 2019.

“This agreement reflects our mission: delight quality of life lovers all over the world with the greatest coffee nature can provide, enhanced by sustainable practices and technologies and the beauty of the arts. We found in JAB the right partner for this new business,” says Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of illycaffè. “Making the illy-experience more and more accessible to consumers globally is fundamental for our strategy and it is the reason we decided to enter such a broad market standard through a licensing agreement. The quality leader and the market leader are putting together their excellences for the benefit of the customer, who is the focus of this project. Millions of coffee lovers will be able to greatly benefit from their freedom of choice.”

“We are very pleased and honoured to form this strategic partnership with illy, a global leader in the premium coffee space, to expand its coffee experience into a new segment globally,” says Fabien Simon, CFO of JDE (speaking on behalf of JAB and JDE). “Through the JDE platform, JAB has a rich history of more than 265 years of coffee expertise across a variety of technologies, with leadership positions in key coffee markets around the world in modern and traditional trade. Through this trademark licensing agreement for the production and distribution of illy-branded aluminum capsules, we are committed to deliver the quality consistent with the world reference illy in-cup experience.”

JDE will be producing and distributing the new capsule internationally in the retail trade. In order to maximize synergies with illy omni-channel presence, illycaffè will oversee distribution in Italy and in all the other sales channels.

illycaffè is an Italian family business, founded in Trieste in 1933. One of the most globally recognized coffee brands, illy’s unique 100% Arabica blend is made of coffee from nine of the world’s leading coffee-producing nations. Each day more than seven million cups are served in over 140 countries in the finest cafés, restaurants, hotels and in offices and homes. The company also founded the University of Coffee with the aim of fostering and spreading its culture, providing comprehensive academic and hands-on training for coffee growers, baristas and coffee lovers in order to cover every aspect of the product. In 2017, the company employed 1,290 people and posted consolidated revenues of €467 million. There are approximately 244 stores and mono-brand illy shops in 43 countries. For more information, visit www.illy.com.

JAB Holding Company and JAB Consumer Fund invest in companies with premium brands, attractive growth and strong margin dynamics in the consumer goods category. Both JAB Holding Company and JAB Consumer Fund are overseen by its three senior partners: Peter Harf, Bart Becht (chairman) and Olivier Goudet (CEO). Together, JAB Holding Company and JAB Consumer Fund have controlling stakes in KDP, a challenger and leader in the North-American beverage market, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), the largest pure-play FMCG coffee company in the world, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, a premier specialty coffee and tea company, Caribou Coffee Company, a specialty retailer of high-quality premium coffee products, and in Espresso House, the largest branded coffee shop chain in Scandinavia, among numerous others. For additional information, visit www.jabholco.com.

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