The declaration, signed by Melissa Duncan, executive director of Fairtrade International, and Jeroen Douglas, the Director General of ICA, has solidified the organisations’ commitment to work together to advance the principles of democracy, empowerment, economic prosperity and distribution, and the convergence of economic, social, and environmental components of development.

The announcement was made during ICA’s General Assembly held in New Delhi, India this week. Tone Cecilie Faugli, the CEO of Fairtrade Norway, together with Fairtrade Network of Asia & Pacific Producers CEO Erwin Novianto and Fairtrade certified cooperatives are participating in the event.

“We’re excited to launch this partnership with ICA as we embark on this shared opportunity to leverage our strengths and work together to build strong cooperatives that achieve better, fairer, and more dignified labour relations. Successful cooperatives are the lifeblood of Fairtrade and essential for sustainable global trade,” said Melissa Duncan, Fairtrade’s Executive Director.

“This declaration cements our joint efforts towards creating impactful change for cooperatives worldwide,” said Jeroen Douglas, Director General of ICA. “Together, ICA and Fairtrade International will drive forward initiatives that support cooperatives in their sustainable business case though fair pricing. Only a price tag on fair wages, clean water, gender inclusion and the pure air we breathe will transform our economy to the needs of communities.”

Fairtrade International and ICA, both EU Financial Framework Partnership Agencies, have had fruitful collaboration in the past on policy influencing, evidence gathering research, and the sharing of best practices focusing on the management of sustainable supply chains and people-centred business models. Advocacy work on cooperatives’ priorities include the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive. ICA and Fairtrade are also both members of the EU’s Global Gateway Dialogue Platform.

The partnership agreement will now facilitate closer co-operation between ICA and Fairtrade International on emerging areas of expertise needed, such as cooperative legal frameworks, agroecology, climate change, youth inclusion, gender equality, among others. It will contribute to strengthen both organisations’ work on promoting inclusive and sustainable cooperatives and their communities through wealth creation and redistribution, democracy, empowerment. It will also advance efforts towards an ever-increasing convergence between the economic, social, and environmental components of development.

Under the flagship of the UN International Year of Cooperatives, this partnership is expected to enable more cooperatives and their members to realise sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential, and decide on their future, given the growing risks and challenges they face.

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In 1974, the Trieste-based company introduced the first pre-dosed and compressed single-serving coffee pod- a pioneering invention that, in the 1990s, became the industry standard (E.S.E. – Easy Serving Espresso). This marked a true revolution: with the perfect amount of coffee packed between two layers of filter paper and precisely pressurized, anyone could make an espresso as good as one served in a bar, right at home.

Half a century later, illycaffè continues its legacy of innovation with the ILLY X2.2 E.S.E., a new professional coffee machine designed by renowned architect and industrial designer Luca Trazzi. With its sleek, vintage inspired design, the new illy machine is crafted for bars, restaurants, and hotels that cater to clients seeking top-quality coffee and a responsible, sustainable experience. The launch responds to recent market trends, with 70% of consumers now preferring sustainable products, and coffee pods becoming an increasingly popular purchased by more than 3.2 million Italian households in 2023, a 10% increase from the previous year.

“We are proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E.S.E. pod system, a technology that, for half a
century, has embodied our dedication to innovation, quality, and sustainability – values that have always
been integral to illy,” said Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “This commitment is also reflected in our new professional coffee machine, which combines sophisticated design with sustainable technology to ensure excellent coffee while respecting our planet.”

The new ILLY X2.2 E.S.E. professional machine ensures exceptional in-cup quality with just a few simple steps. The illy E.S.E. pods, certified compostable, can be disposed of with organic waste, and are available in Classico (double espresso and lungo), Intenso, and Decaffeinato variants.

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Following a vote on 14 November in Brussels, Belgium, the European Parliament confirmed to delay implementing the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) –a plan that was already endorsed by the Council of Ministers – until December 2025.

Adopted on 19 April 2023 and initially due to be enforced on 30 December 2024, the EUDR proposes to ban the export of products associated with deforestation, such as coffee beans, cocoa beans, soya, cattle, rubber, palm oil, and wood. The law also applies to European farmers.

Third countries, member states, operators and traders will have more time to prepare for the due diligence obligations imposed by the EUDR. Large operators and traders would have to adhere to the requirements stemming from the EUDR as of 30 December 2025, whereas micro- and small enterprises would have until 30 June 2026. In a statement released by the European Parliament, “this additional time would help operators around the world to implement the rules smoothly from the start without undermining the objectives of the law.”

Parliament also adopted other amendments proposed by the political groups such as the European People’s Party (EPP), including the creation of a new category of countries posing “no risk” on deforestation in addition to the existing three categories of “low”, “standard” and “high” risk. Countries classified as “no risk”, defined as countries with stable or increasing forest area development, would face significantly less stringent requirements as there is a negligible or non-existent risk of deforestation. The Commission will have to finalise a country-benchmarking system by 30 June 2025.

Multiple proponents of the EUDR have called out the move. In a statement on LinkedIn, Rainforest Alliance said the no-risk category would be “a death sentence to the EUDR.”

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued a statement saying, “The European Parliament, driven by the European People’s Party (EPP), voted for amendments to substantially weaken the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) de facto deregulating and undermining one of the EU’s landmark environmental laws. By introducing a category of “no risk” countries, the EPP and its allies have effectively voted to enable further forest destruction both within and outside of Europe. The move undermines the efforts of forward-thinking companies that have invested in deforestation-free supply chains to comply with EUDR requirements in time for its application on 30 December 2024.”

Parliament is now referring this file back to committee for interinstitutional negotiations. In order for these changes to enter into force, the agreed text will have to be endorsed by both Council and Parliament and published in the EU Official Journal.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest – an area larger than the EU – were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation. Palm oil and soya beans account for more than two-thirds of this. — Vanessa L Facenda

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Thanks to their innovation expertise, Nestle’s coffee experts were able to develop a new soluble coffee that dissolves perfectly when used either with hot or cold water. The products are currently available in Central and Eastern Europe.

Damien Tissot, head of Nestlé R&D for coffee, says: “We’re excited to introduce our new range of versatile flavoured Nescafé soluble coffee, which are perfect for both hot and iced coffee beverages. By pairing natural flavours with a smooth coffee base, we can also enable coffee drinkers to enjoy new coffee tastes and flavours while maintaining the same iconic quality”.

This versatility enables coffee lovers to use the same product to make their preferred beverage, whether it’s a classic hot cup or a refreshing iced drink. Consumers can enjoy the coffee as is or add milk or their favourite dairy alternative for an even smoother cup. Additionally, the products contain subtle notes of natural flavourings without any added sugar.

Axel Touzet, head of Nestlé’s coffee strategic business unit, says: “Both cold and flavoured coffee are currently trending with younger consumers. This launch is another step forward in our efforts to deliver coffee innovations that resonate with the next generation of coffee drinkers.”

Nestlé continues to deliver exciting innovations for its Nescafé brand. Earlier this year, the company launched Nescafé Espresso Concentrate, enabling consumers to create their favourite barista-style iced coffees at home in a convenient and simple way. In 2023, Nescafé started its cold coffee journey by introducing Nescafé Ice Roast, its first ever soluble coffee designed to be enjoyed with cold water, cold milk or over ice.

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The Colombian Milds and Other Milds decreased by 0.8% and 0.6%, reaching 277.10 and 276.82 US cents/lb, respectively, in October 2024. The Brazilian Naturals also depreciated, decreasing by 0.5% to 255.85 US cents/lb in October 2024. The Robustas contracted 8.3% to 221.93 US cents/lb. The New York and London ICE markets were drivers of the contraction, decreasing by 1.3% and 8.2% and reaching 250.62 and 207.11 US cents/lb, respectively.

On 2 October, a press release was published saying that the European Commission “strengthens support for EU Deforestation Regulation implementation and proposes extra 12 months of phasing-in time, responding to calls by global partners.” The news had a bearish impact on the I-CIP, with a market reaction driving the price to 245.29 US cents/lb by 7 October from 263.96 US cents/lb on 1 October. On 16 October, the Council agreed on its position on the targeted amendment of the EU Deforestation Regulation, postponing its date of application by 12 months. As a result, if agreed by the European Parliament, the obligations stemming from this regulation will be binding from 30 December 2025 for large operators and traders and from 30 June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises. The news of the agreement by the Council appears to have further added to the downward momentum of the I-CIP, which steadily fell throughout the remainder of the month, closing October at 242.25 US cents/lb. The Brazilian Real was an additional downward factor on the I-CIP, which reached a 3.5 year low against the dollar at 5.81 BRL to 1 USD on 31 October.

The Colombian Milds–Other Milds differential shrank from 0.75 to 0.28 US cents/lb between September and October 2024. The Colombian Milds–Brazilian Naturals differential contracted by 3.5% to 21.25 US cents/lb, whilst the Colombian Milds–Robustas differential expanded by 48.3% from September to October 2024, averaging 55.17 US cents/lb. Meanwhile, the Other Milds– Brazilian Naturals and Other Milds–Robustas differentials moved by -1.5% and 50.6% to 20.97 and 54.89 US cents/lb, respectively. The Brazilian Naturals–Robustas differential grew by 123.6%, averaging 33.92 US cents/lb in October 2024.

The arbitrage, as measured between the London and New York futures markets, expanded 54.2% to 43.50 US cents/lb in October 2024, marking its highest point in four months. This trend reversal could signal how the market is reacting to longer term higher Robusta prices, where the downward adjustment of the Robustas seems to be stronger in relation to the Arabicas, reflecting that the Robustas may have been overvalued. Furthermore, in September 2024, the Robustas grew month-on-month at a much faster rate than the Arabicas – 12.8% versus 6.2% – thereby permitting a more aggressive downward adjustment.

The intra-day volatility of the I-CIP expanded by 0.5 percentage points, averaging 11.0% in October 2024. The Colombian Milds’ volatility increased by 0.6 percentage points. The Other Milds’ volatility grew by 0.4 percentage points to 11.4% while the Brazilian Naturals followed the same uptrend, gaining 0.7 percentage points and averaging 12.1% in October 2024. The Robustas’ volatility contracted to 11.2% for the month of October, a 0.1 percentage point decrease. Lastly, New York’s volatility increased by 0.5 percentage points to 12.7% while the London futures market’s volatility also increased by 1.0 percentage points to 13.6%.

Exports by Coffee Groups – Green Beans
Global green bean exports in September 2024 totalled 9.69 million bags, as compared with 7.74 million bags in the same month of the previous year, up 25.2%. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of green beans were up 11.8% to 123.75 million bags from 110.72 million bags in coffee year 2022/23, an absolute increase of 13.02 million bags. This is the biggest annual increase on record, surpassing the previous highest of 9.27 million bags in coffee year 1995/96. The rate and the volume of increase in coffee year 2023/24 are largely a reflection of the base effect of two consecutive years of downturn (of 1.1% and 5.6%), with the world green bean exports falling from 118.66 million bags in coffee year 2020/21 to 110.72 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. As such, the double-digit increase in coffee year 2023/24 represents a recovery, and not necessarily an expansion, of the long-term trend. Contextualizing, world exports of green beans have been increasing at an average of 2.36 million bags every coffee year between coffee years 2010/11 and 2020/21, while there was an increase of only 1.69 million bags annually between coffee years 2020/21 and 2023/24. The actual exports level is below the potential level of 125.73 million bags.

Shipments of the Other Milds increased by 22.9% in September 2024 to 1.92 million bags from 1.56 million bags in the same period last year. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the Other Milds were up 4.7% to 23.05 million bags from 22.02 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

Green bean exports of the Brazilian Naturals increased in September 2024, jumping by 37.3% to 3.68 million bags. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the Brazilian Naturals were up 22.6% to 41.89 million bags from 34.16 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

Exports of the Colombian Milds increased by 22.3% to 0.99 million bags in September 2024 from 0.81 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the Colombian Milds were up 14.3% to 12.22 million bags from 10.69 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. For coffee year 2023/24, total green beans exports of Arabicas were up 15.47% to 77.17 million bags from 66.68 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

Overall, for the Arabicas, the double-digit growth in coffee year 2023/24 should, like the total green bean exports, be viewed as recovery back onto the long-term trend. Like the total exports, exports of the Arabicas in coffee year 2023/24 followed two consecutive years of negative growth (3.1% and 10.4%) before recording the biggest absolute annual increase on record at 10.29 million bags. Contextualizing, exports of the Arabicas have been increasing at an average of 1.45 million bags every year between coffee years 2010/11 and 2020/21. The potential level of exports is 81.38 million bags.

Green bean exports of the Robustas were up 15.4% to 3.1 million bags in September 2024 from 3.59 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the Robustas were up 6.2% to 46.58 million bags from 43.84 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. It is the biggest annual exports on record and was largely driven by Brazil, which exported 9.02 million bags as compared with 2.84 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. The growth in Brazil’s exports more than compensated the large drop in exports from Vietnam, which shipped 23.19 million bags in coffee year 2023/24 as compared with 26.13 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. The origin, the world’s largest producer and exporter of Robustas, has been struggling with domestic supplies, with production falling below the potential levels due to adverse weather conditions.

For coffee year 2023/24, the Arabicas’ share of total green bean exports increased to 62.4% as compared with 60.4% in coffee year 2022/23.

Exports by Regions – All Forms of Coffee
In September 2024, South America’s exports of all forms of coffee increased by 30.8% to 6.2 million bags. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the region were up 30.7% to 66.13 million bags from 50.59 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. The region’s two largest producers and exporters, Brazil and Colombia, saw their total exports jump by 34.3% and 13.7%, respectively, to 49.03 million bags and 11.91 million bags. For Brazil, these are the largest exports on record. Part of the impetus for Brazil’s growth was the gap in the market created by Vietnam in the Robustas market. Although it is not widely acknowledged, Brazil is the secondlargest Robustas producer in the world, accounting for 32.0% of global supply in coffee year 2022/23.

Exports of all forms of coffee from Africa increased by 14.3% to 1.37 million bags in September 2024 from 1.2 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, exports from the region were up 17.3% to 16.02 million bags from 13.66 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. Ethiopia was the main driver of the region’s double-digits growth, with the origin’s exports up 63.5% to 5.59 million bags in coffee year 2023/24 as compared with 3.42 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. These are the largest exports on record for the origin, and it is also the first time the 5.0 million bags ceiling has been breached. The underlying reason for Ethiopia’s double-digit growth was the resolution of internal contract disputes, which had led to export shipments being delayed in coffee year 2022/23. Once again, contextualization is necessary when analysing the exports of Ethiopia: exports fell in coffee year 2022/23 by 15.0% to 3.42 million bags from 4.02 million bags in coffee year 2021/22, the lowest level since 3.09 million bags in coffee year 2015/16. As a result, the 5.59 million bags should be viewed as a recovery.

In September 2024, exports of all forms of coffee from Mexico & Central America were up 18.1% to 0.9 million bags as compared with 0.76 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the region were down 4.1% to 14.51 million bags from 15.13 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. The downturn was primarily driven by Honduras and Nicaragua, which suffered from decreases of 12.1% and 16.5%, respectively. The former’s exports were hampered by its off-years in the biennial production cycle, while the latter’s exports were negatively affected by the bankruptcy of Mercon Coffee Group in December 2023, a coffee trader and the owner of CISA Exportadora, a company responsible for more than half of Nicaragua’s coffee exports. Exports from Guatemala and Mexico were the two main mitigating positive factors of the region, increasing by 8.6% and 8.9% to 3.28 million bags and 2.97 million bags, respectively.

Exports of all forms of coffee from Asia & Oceania increased by 19.6% to 2.29 million bags in September 2024 as compared with 1.91 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, exports of the region were down 6.7% to 40.62 million bags from 43.54 million bags in coffee year 2022/23. Vietnam, the largest producer and exporter in Asia & Oceania, was the main driving force behind the region’s annual downturn, with its exports decreasing by 11.7% to 24.96 million bags. This is the lowest exports level since 22.03 million bags in coffee year 2014/15. Tightness in domestic supply due to lower production from adverse weather conditions and loss of productive areas to other cash crops, and depletion of local stocks, was the main reason for the double-digit downturn. India was a positive mitigating factor within the region, recording a 10.0% increase in its exports to 6.98 million bags in coffee year 2023/24 as compared with 6.34 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

Exports of Coffee by Forms
Total exports of soluble coffee increased by 24.3% in September 2024 to 1.02 million bags from 0.82 million bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, soluble coffee exports were up 11.6% to 12.82 million bags from 11.48 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

Soluble coffee’s share in the total exports of all forms of coffee for the year to date was 9.3% in September 2024, the same for the same period a year ago. Brazil is the largest exporter of soluble coffee, having shipped 0.37 million bags in September 2024 and 3.89 million bags in coffee year 2023/24.

Exports of roasted beans were down 9.2% in September 2024 to 54,544 bags, as compared with 60,040 bags in September 2023. For coffee year 2023/24, roasted coffee exports were down 0.5% to 0.71 million bags from 0.713 million bags in coffee year 2022/23.

For the full report, visit icocoffee.org.

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The Global Ventures group was established in 2019 primarily to oversee the company’s ownership of Costa, innocent and Dogadan, as well as the company’s investment in Monster Beverage Corp.

“As we look to our next chapter of growth, we have evaluated how to best set ourselves up for future success with these growth areas, and we believe now is the right time to have them work more directly with our operating units,” said Coca-Cola president and CFO John Murphy.

The following changes take effect 1 Jan 2025:
• Costa will remain a stand-alone business and will report to the Europe OU. Costa is based in London, and the majority of the company’s retail and Express outlets are located in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. Costa’s ready-to-drink businesses outside of Europe will report through local operating units.
• Dogadan, a Türkiye-based tea business that was founded in 1975 and in recent years has closely collaborated with the Costa business, will report into Costa’s retail business in Europe. Dogadan has been part of Coca-Cola since 2007.
• Innocent, a 25-year-old, London-based maker of juices and smoothies, will report to the Europe operating unit. Coca-Cola has had an ownership stake in innocent since 2009. Innocent drinks are sold across Europe.
• Oversight of Coca-Cola’s investment in Monster will move to Murphy, while the respective geographies will be responsible for the underlying operations results.

Global Ventures is currently a separate operating segment. Global Ventures will be sunset as part of the reorganization, and the company will issue financials for 2022 through 2024 to reflect the changes. The recast data will be available publicly in early 2025.

The Coca-Cola Company reported on 23 October that net revenues declined 1% to USD $11.9 billion, and organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 9% for its fiscal 2024 third quarter. Operating margin, which includes items impacting comparability, was 21.2% versus 27.4% in the prior year, while comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) was 30.7% versus 29.7% in the prior year. Coffee declined 6%, primarily due to the performance of Costa® coffee in the United Kingdom. Tea grew 7%, driven by growth in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa.

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The coffee industry is not without its challenges, such as the presence of ochratoxin, a harmful mycotoxin that can contaminate coffee beans. This underscores the need for advanced solutions like optical sorting machines, as highlighted by Johanna Majer, product manager for the coffee portfolio at
Bühler AG, a German technology company. As she explained, Bühler pays great attention to shaping its optical sorting technologies, meticulously testing local solutions before allowing their mass use for the benefit of coffee processors and consumers worldwide.

“We are offering better transparency, including accurate data sets to allow processors to monitor the performance of their process and empower their decision-making. From tracking the percentage rejected to receiving detailed defect breakdowns, processors can enjoy peace of mind and keep uptime high,” Majer said.

Using the best optical sorting machines is the way to top quality in the coffee industry, stated Michela Pelliconi, head of sales, optical sorting at Cimbria, a Denmark-based manufacturer in the processing, handling and storage of grain and seeds and other industrial products. “Cimbria’s high-end optical sorters bring unmatched quality and reliability to coffee processing operations, she commented, adding that “we have achieved this thanks to close collaboration with coffee processing companies and coffee roasters from all over the world that have reciprocated our studies and commitment to their needs with satisfaction and gratitude for over 50 years.”

Pelliconi shared that the best sorter combines the ideal inspection systems and mechanics with the best software-based processing. Cimbria’s advanced and intuitive optical sorting technology revolutionises how coffee beans are selected and classified. This allows companies to achieve higher levels of efficiency in their sorting processes, resulting in maximum quality, improved productivity, reduced waste and increased profitability.

Satake USA, the North American division of Japan-based grain processing machinery manufacturer, Satake Corporation, has also been working on streamlining its product offering in the optical sorting machinery segment. “We have different types of optical sorters for coffee beans – green and roasted –
suitable for different customer requirements,” explained Pam Enriquez, marketing services manager with Satake.

Satake offers a range that could meet the requirements of customers dealing with product flows of different sizes. “Our smallest sorter is portable and cost-effective and can be used in laboratory or medium-sized production lines. We also have sorters for higher capacities with special features to minimise losses of good coffee beans and produce clean products,” Enriquez said.

Sticks and stones

Bühler’s Majer said that the optical sorting machinery has become a must-have solution for customers striving for higher quality standards. “This includes the defect trend of quaker beans, a classification of immature coffee bean with lower sugar concentration,” she said, adding that quakers do not caramelise during the roasting process and can be unpleasant to taste.

“Our new technology, installed at a first customer site, has very promising signs of effectively reducing
quakers, and we will continue to test quakers to ensure processors receive the maximum yield from
their supply,” Majer said. “Alongside new challenges, there are also ‘fundamental’ defects, including
sticks, stones, and insect damage. These same-colour contaminants provide a challenge that we are
constantly solving at higher levels of efficiency.”

“The introduction of the MerlinAi engine, now implemented in our SORTEX J and H SpectraVision
series, is an example of innovating coffee with higher levels of defect removal, helping both producing and importing countries to ensure coffee of the highest market quality,” Majer stated.

“In a world tending to the ‘cheap’, operators in the coffee sector are among those who stand out for
excellence in processing and quality. Now, coffee is appreciated all over the world more than ever, and
the focus on high-quality coffee is increasing in many markets,” Pelliconi said, adding, “even where
the harvest has faced some challenges, the best technology is requested and used to optimise the
quality of the final output product. Customers around the world [request] our advanced optical sorting technologies.”

To allow customers to enjoy a cup of coffee of excellent quality, a series of crucial decisions have been made throughout the process “from field to cup”, Pelliconi said, adding that starting from the harvest of berries, there are many skills in play throughout this value chain.

The choice of the optical sorter is one of the most important ones because the natural product, which
in nature needs constant temperatures, influenced by natural events, transport and many other factors,
always presents itself in need of being purged from beans that would give a taste not optimal to that
great cup of coffee.

“Coffee is a natural product [that not only varies by origin] but also always evolving,” Pelliconi said. “If all the processing lines are now equipped with mechanical systems to prevent stones and foreign bodies from being found in the product ready for market, a check with high-end optical sorters is necessary to be sure to eliminating the hidden or hard to recognise unwanted foreign bodies such as coconut fragments,” she said.

Majer explained that alongside quality, this is also a sustainability topic, as it results in less waste and fewer beans progressing to the roasting stage before being identified. “With stricter regulations and supply price volatility, it is more important than ever to make every bean count!”

An Era of Artificial Intelligence

Satake introduced several innovations in the coffee field recently, particularly focused on enhancing sorting accuracy and efficiency, Enriquez said. “Our latest advancements include improvements in optical sorting technologies that utilise advanced sensors, higher-resolution cameras, and AI algorithms to more accurately detect and remove defects, foreign materials, and inconsistencies in coffee beans.”

Additionally, Satake integrated X-ray technology into its sorting systems to complement RGB and infrared capabilities, allowing the company to better identify subtle differences in bean quality that were previously challenging to detect. “The addition of X-ray helps us spot internal defects and foreign materials that may not be visible through traditional optical methods, ensuring a more thorough and precise sorting process,” said Enriquez. “This integration enhances both the safety and quality of the final product, offering greater confidence to our customers in the coffee industry,”

Looking ahead, Enriquez noted that Satake plans to further streamline its technologies by focusing on automation and remote monitoring capabilities. “This will allow customers to access real-time data and analytics, optimise machine performance, and reduce downtime through predictive maintenance. We’re also exploring the use of machine learning to continuously adapt and refine sorting parameters based on specific customer needs and regional bean characteristics, which will improve processing efficiency and overall product quality,” she explained.

However, the key trend in optical sorting in the coming years will be the use of AI and advanced automation, Enriquez said.

This opinion is shared by Cimbria, which recently introduced a highly advanced control system in its top-range optical sorters, empowered with brand-new AI software, BRAIN TM. “Cimbria combines many years of solid knowledge and expertise with high technology and artificial intelligence,” Pelliconi said. “The result is the ability to easily create the most complex recipes for the best optical sorting ever.”

The combination of human operation and machine learning makes the precision sorting of any variety of coffee beans with impressive results.

“With BRAIN, we have revolutionised the way our top-range optical sorter operates. Our many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of what makes the best possible sorting are key in creating the ideal recipes for optical sorting,” Pelliconi said, adding, “This simplifies the manual operation of the machine
because the right settings have already been adjusted for an optimised outcome through artificial intelligence.” A complex algorithm of the BRAIN software enables the SEA.IQ PLUS optical sorter to identify elements even more precisely and distinguish colour, shape, size, and defects quickly and easily, saving precious time and manual workload.

Still, optical sorting is one of the technologies where perfection is unlimited. All market players acknowledge their commitment to continuing to refine their solutions.

“How do we intend to further improve our technology? Simply as you do in anything to be able to succeed: a lot of study, a lot of commitment, perseverance, and a bit of passion,” Pelliconi said.

• Vladislav Vorotnikov is a Batumi, Georgia-based multimedia B2B freelance journalist writing about the tea and coffee industries since 2012.

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 Zone Latin America (LATAM) and Zone North America (NA) will merge to form Zone Americas (AMS), which will be led by Steve Presley. He will relocate to Nestlé’s headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.
 Zone Greater China Region (GCR) will become part of Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA), under the leadership of Remy Ejel. David Zhang will step down from the Executive Board and will remain Chairman and CEO of the Greater China Region.
 Zone Europe (EUR) will continue to be led by Guillaume Le Cunff and remains unchanged.

Laurent Freixe, Nestlé CEO, said, “A leaner Executive Board structure and close collaboration of the leadership team at the headquarters will increase simplicity, speed up decision-making and strengthen the momentum behind global initiatives. We will continue to build on the strengths of our Market Heads to ensure consistent in-market execution across the Group.” Pursuant to the reducing the Executive Board, Freixe announced:

 Bernard Meunier has decided to step down from the Executive Board on 31 March 2025, and will lead strategic projects for the Group. David Rennie, currently head of Nestlé Coffee Brands will succeed Bernard Meunier as the head of Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and Marketing and Sales. Nestlé Coffee Brands, with the exception of Nespresso, will be integrated into the SBU organisation.
 Nespresso is led by Philipp Navratil. He will join the Executive Board and now report directly to Nestlé CEO Freixe. Philipp Navratil is known for his ability to inspire and motivate people. He has extensive global experience across various roles and a profound understanding of Nestlé.
 Nestlé Health Science will continue to be led by Anna Mohl.
 Antonia Wanner, who leads the Sustainability Unit, will now report directly to Freixe without holding a position on the Executive Board.

Starting in 2025, Nestlé’s reporting will comprise five segments: Zone AMS, Zone AOA, Zone EUR, Nestlé Health Science and Nespresso. The company will also continue to voluntarily report sales performance each quarter for North America and for Latin America within Zone AMS and for Greater China within Zone AOA.

Freixe added, “With these organisational changes, all the leaders of key units driving our performance and our transformation will now report directly to me. This is crucial, as we sharpen our focus on consumers and customers and restore investment in our brands and in innovation to expand market share and accelerate our performance. Going forward, we are also placing a greater emphasis on Nestlé’s digital transformation into a real-time, end-to-end connected, data- and AI-powered organisation. I am confident these changes will optimally position Nestlé for future success.”

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Starbucks Milano Duetto is one coffee blend, expressed through two bold, contrasting roasts to highlight the duality between tradition and innovation:

• Starbucks Milano Sole (light roast) pays homage to the vibrant Milanese coffee culture, featuring medium to high acidity, and a medium body, and notes of creamy vanilla custard and sweet pomegranate with hints of nutmeg.
• Starbucks Milano Luna (dark roast) is an ode to the heritage of Starbucks roasting, featuring medium to low acidity, and a medium to full body; it displays bold notes of dark chocolate truffle and roasted black walnut.

“For Starbucks, coffee has always been a lens through which we see the world – a world rich in diversity, tradition, and innovation,” said Michelle Burns, executive vice president, global coffee and sustainability. “Milan’s rich coffee culture – which served as the inspiration for Starbucks coffeehouse culture – and Starbucks 50+ year history and expertise in coffee roasting have inspired this new line of limited-release, special edition coffees, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna.”

The Starbucks Milano Duetto blend is crafted from coffee grown in Colombia and Sumatra, where Starbucks has worked and sourced from trusted smallholder farmer communities for many years. The processing method of the South American coffee contributes heightened acidity and a clean finish while the semi-washed method of the Sumatra coffee contributes a distinctive full body and earthy, herbal flavour notes.

During the creation of Starbucks Milano Duetto, the Starbucks Coffee Development team experimented with a range of roasts by stopping at various points in the roasting cycle. After nearly a dozen iterations, the result is something the team is excited for partners and customers to try.

“The best way to understand the nuances and the effect roasting has on the coffee creation process is to compare the same blend roasted two different ways,” said Sergio Alvarez, a coffee developer and 15-year employee who was part of the team that crafted Starbucks Milano Duetto. “Our hope is that after tasting these coffees, our partners and customers are inspired, and perhaps have that ‘aha’ moment that many baristas have when tasting coffee. The moment where one wants to learn more.”

First introduced at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano for a limited time, throughout October, Starbucks Milano Sole and Milano Luna will be the featured light and dark roast brewed coffee in Starbucks stores in the US as well as available for purchase as packaged whole bean coffee.

Throughout the month of October, Starbucks customers in select markets across Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, can purchase Starbucks Milano Sole and Milano Luna as packaged whole bean coffee, and in select regions it will also be available as hot brewed coffee while supplies last.

Although Milano Sole and Milano Luna will be the featured brewed coffee in Starbucks stores this month, Alvarez, at a tasting event for press at Starbucks Empire State Building Reserve store in New York City in September, said both blends work well as espresso and as cold brew, as well as with dairy and non-dairy additives.

Select US Starbucks stores will also host tastings of Starbucks Milano Duetto with customers. To find a participating store, customers can inquire with their local store for details.

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Roos joined the Amsterdam-based company in July 2022 after five years at L’Oréal.

In a statement, the Lipton tea maker said Roos and her team had relaunched many of the company’s key brands with some considerable success, noting that she also oversaw the establishment of a new “global responsible sourcing partnership” with Sri Lanka-based tea exporter Brown’s Investments. The agreement included the transfer of the Lipton tea estates in East Africa.

Pierre Laubies, Lipton Teas and Infusions’ chair of the board, will be its executive chair while the board appoints a successor.

Commenting on Roos’ departure, Laubies said, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Nathalie for her achievements as CEO of Lipton Tea and Infusions. She has set the business on an exciting journey that we continue to follow.”

Roos said, “I found my time at Lipton Teas and Infusions enormously rewarding. I believe we have created a special company with tremendous potential and I look forward to watching its future success.”

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Having launched last month across UK flights, all international easyJet customers can now enjoy selected Costa Coffee drinks across all 1,184 easyJet routes to 170 destinations in 35 countries.

To celebrate the launch, Costa Coffee’s master of coffee, Gennaro Pelliccia, surprised holidaymakers onboard an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Rome with a special coffee experience at 30,000 feet.

Passengers were treated to complimentary goodie bags and a selection of beverages from Costa Coffee’s newly launched inflight range, from a Salted Caramel Latte to a frothy Cappuccino, which has been developed in collaboration with easyJet.

Excitement brewed onboard as Gennaro – renowned for his unmatched expertise and passion for coffee – shared his secrets and stories behind crafting the perfect cup of Costa Coffee

Gennaro Pelliccia, commented, “It was an absolute pleasure to bring the Costa Coffee experience to life in the sky. Sharing a perfect cup of coffee with passengers as they embarked on their trip to Rome was a dream come true. Our Italian heritage continues to inspire us every day to reimagine new coffee experiences for coffee fans all around the world. Collaborating with easyJet allows us to make every journey – even in the air – just that little bit more special.”

Russell Braterman, in flight retail director for easyJet, said, “We are always looking for ways to enhance the onboard experience for our millions of customers and bring them more of the choices they want when they fly with us, so we are delighted to launch this new range with Costa Coffee onboard all our flights, which makes a fantastic addition to our popular EAT DRINK range onboard.”

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“Currently, many manufacturers do not or not fully meet the requirements of the European Union’s Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will take effect in 2030. They are now looking for solutions,” explained Christina Holm, product manager at Syntegon. “At the same time, aroma protection and quality remain crucial, especially for coffee. With the PMX 4001, we are helping our customers meet these requirements.” Visitors to Fachpack can see a 3D animation of the machine from 24 – 26 September in hall 1 at booth 1-257. Also on show: the mono-material VIS 10F coffee degassing valves made by Syntegon, which were recently certified by the cyclos-HTP institute as recyclable across Europe.

Sustainable partner for fully recyclable packaging

Sustainability was a key aspect in the development of the PMX 4001 right from the start: “We designed the PMX 4001 to process alternative packaging materials at high outputs – up to 65 bags per minute with a pack weight of 500 grams,” said Holm. This refers not only to the innovative sealing technology of the PMX 4001, but also to the gentle ultrasonic technology for the application of even recyclable degassing valves.

The choice of more environmentally friendly packaging materials depends on many factors, such as the product’s protection requirements or the packaging machines. This is why Syntegon offers manufacturers expert support in the form of packaging material testing, which includes both tests of the material properties in the in-house laboratory and practical tests on the machine. Additionally, Syntegon provides coffee manufacturers with aroma-protecting coffee degassing valves made from mono-material, which have been certified as “excellently recyclable” in accordance with an EU-wide standard. “Our machines and services enable coffee producers to create fully recyclable coffee packaging,” Christina Holm summarises.

High-quality coffee packaging with a small footprint

The quality of the coffee packaging is reflected not only in the material but also in the process. With its gentle product handling, integrated valve application, and gas flushing of the coffee to minimise residual oxygen, the PMX 4001 is perfectly tailored to the packaging of coffee – and ensures aroma protection and a long shelf life. The appearance of the packaging influences the purchasing decision, especially for a premium product like coffee. The machine takes this into account and achieves a high-quality product appearance with extremely precise sealing seams. At the same time, the PMX 4001 is the most compact machine in the series. Thanks to its low height and footprint of only 2.6 by 2.1 meters, it is also ideal for manufacturers with limited space.

Future-proof with condition monitoring and seamless solutions

Sustainability does not end with environmentally friendly materials. Many manufacturers are also optimising their production processes to make them more resource-efficient. This requires transparency of their production. The Industry 4.0 solution Synexio Empower, which is installed as standard in the PMX 4001, monitors all machine functions as well as energy and resource consumption in real time.

Syntegon also offers manufacturers turnkey coffee packaging machines and systems that cover all steps of the packaging process. This includes solutions for secondary packaging of coffee, such as the Elematic case packers, which are available as wrap-around, side or top loaders, as well as consulting and service offerings. “We provide coffee manufacturers with seamless solutions that enable them to package their products sustainably now and in the future,” said Holm.

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Although we are seeing declining interest rates in the US, Europe and the UK, there are still concerns around the macroeconomic backdrop as inflationary pressures remain and will continue to pose near-term challenges (even plain grocery store coffee beans cost 22% more than three years ago). Hence, consumers are still cautious with their spending, cutting back on foodservice purchases — and even reducing spend on their beloved java from their favourite coffee shops. Declining sales including same-store sales – a result of lower foot traffic – (and a sagging share price) is what led to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan being forced to step down (Brian Niccol, CEO of Chipotle was named as his successor) as the multinational coffee chain strategizes to turn things around.

Despite the economic uncertainties, consumers – both older and younger consumers – still enjoy purchasing coffee from their favourite coffee shops (some 62% of millennials will still spend up to $7 per day on coffee) because they feel it is a small indulgence, but maybe now not as frequently. Many consumers are no longer purchasing these ‘treats’ daily in efforts to control their spending.

CashNetUSA recently released study identifying the cheapest areas across the United States to buy a cup of coffee. It found the average price of a cup of coffee in local indie cafés and chains and ranked them by state and city and also compared these prices to the average local wage to determine affordability.

Quite surprisingly, Maine has the cheapest coffee while South Dakota – not New York or California – has the most expensive. CashNetUSA revealed that a cup of coffee in South Dakota costs USD $3.79, 45.76% more than in Maine ($2.60), the cheapest state. South Dakota takes over from Washington, which was the most expensive state according to its 2021 report. The cost of coffee in Washington has actually fallen on average. South Dakota’s has jumped by 63.36% from $2.32. Maine is one of 12 states where the average cup costs under $3. These states are mostly towards the Midwest or South of the country.

The study found that at an average of $2.13 per cup, Irving in Texas has the cheapest coffee of any US city. This is also $0.91 cheaper than the average cup across Texas.

The state of Oregon has the fifth-highest average coffee price, at $3.51. Two Oregon cities are the only ones in the US to offer the average coffee cup at a price north of four dollars: Eugene ($4.39) and Salem ($4.16). According to CashNetUSA, these are also two of the least affordable cities when comparing coffee prices with local wages.

Mississippi has the least affordable coffee compared to income. In Mississippi, a cup of coffee costs nearly one-fifth (18.28%) of the average hourly wage. The study found that this is the least affordable coffee of any state, although the average cup in Mississippi is only the 11^th most expensive ($3.30). Massachusetts (where a cup of coffee costs 10.31% of the average hourly wage) has the most affordable average coffee, closely followed by Washington (10.85%).

Olympia, WA, has the most affordable coffee; Eugene, OR, has the least — CashNetUSA reported that it costs just 8.11% of the average hourly wage in Olympia, Washington, to pay for the average cup of coffee. Olympia is followed by three California cities: Oakland (8.33%), San Francisco (8.75%) and San Jose (8.76%). A fourth – Torrance (9.51%) – also makes the top ten most affordable cities for coffee. Eugene, Oregon, is where a cup of coffee costs the biggest chunk of the local average hourly wage (19.59

While national and multinational coffee chains have launched many more promotional offerings this year, particularly this spring and summer, to date, I do not believe any have dropped their prices. But as they battle for consumers’ prized discretionary income, I wonder if they will begin engaging in QSR-like price wars?

For the full CashNetUSA report, click here.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Decaf coffee is gaining popularity in global markets as more and more customers follow the current wellbeing trend, considering it as a healthy alternative to common coffee.

In contrast to Western markets that already have large numbers of decaf coffee consumers, the popularity of coffee without caffeine (or with a small content of it) is just gaining momentum in several emerging nations, many of which can provide significant growth opportunities for players operating in this market segment.

The existing big potential of the decaf coffee market is confirmed by research data. According to predictions of international research agency, Skyquest Technology, over the next seven years, the decaf coffee market will grow by six to seven percent annually, reaching USD $28.86 billion by 2030. By comparison, in 2022, this figure was $19.5 billion. The growth will be observed both in developed nations and emerging countries, where such growth rates are expected to be higher.

As for developed nations, it is expected the United States will be a major driver of growth for decaf coffee in years to come as the demand for coffee with less caffeine among local consumers remains high.

The National Coffee Association (NCA) of the USA reports that more consumers across the country are adopting healthier lifestyles, which may also be associated with increased coffee consumption, since scientific evidence continues to strengthen and shows that both decaffeinated and regular coffee are associated with decreased risk of multiple cancers and chronic diseases.

Speaking with T&CTJ, William “Bill” Murray, president and CEO of the NCA, said decaf coffee has already become an integral part of life for many Americans. “Like regular coffee, decaf is a mainstay in Americans’ lives, and we expect that to continue. Signs point to growth for decaf with Americans over the age of 40, and opportunities for decaf to adjust to consumers’ tastes and interests are abundant.”

Murray further noted that consumers are more interested in health and wellness than ever before and that “there is growing awareness that decaffeinated coffee is associated with decreased risk of multiple cancers and chronic diseases.”

In accordance with NCA’s Spring 2024 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Report, seven percent of Americans had decaf coffee in the past day, and past-day decaf consumption is increasing among Americans ages 40-plus.

Per the NCDT report, past-day decaf consumption is highest for Americans in the 60-plus age group, ten percent of whom had decaf in the past day – up by 11 percent since July 2023. At the same time, past-day decaf consumption has also increased for Americans ages 40-59, with six percent drinking a decaf in the past day – up by 20 percent since July 2023.

Consumption grows in Scandinavia

In the European Union, the biggest growth in demand and consumption of decaf coffee has been observed in certain Nordic states – the countries which are known for their record coffee consumption in general.

One such country is Finland, where sales of decaf coffee have been rapidly growing since the beginning of the 2020s.

Löfbergs instant decaf coffee. Image: Löfbergs

Marleena Tanhuanpää, director of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries´ Federation, said that in recent years there has been a positive trend and continuous sales increase for decaffeinated coffee in Finland. “It is definitely trending at the moment as [there has been an increase in the number] of new locally roasted products, [along with] increased visibility and assortment availability, which is raising consumer interest [in decaf coffee].” Tanhuanpää further noted that decaf coffee innovations coming from local roasteries such as filter coffee with good taste profiles that meet the local needs and preferences are helping drive growth.

“The absolute user amount is still limited in the market but the potential for further growth is there,” Tanhuanpää explained, adding, “especially with the younger (under 35 years old) urban demographic, and women, in particular, are interested in decaffeinated coffee – they want to enjoy the taste of coffee, but regular coffee is not always the most suitable option.”

In neighbouring Denmark, the demand for decaf coffee also remains high, although the share of the segment in the overall Danish coffee market is small.

Henrik Frellsen, the chairman of the Danish Coffee Association and CEO of Frellsen Kaffe, one of the biggest local coffee producers, said decaf coffee currently makes up a small share of the coffee market in Nordic countries. “In Denmark, it accounts for less than one percent of the volume, [which is] constant and has historically remained at this level.”

He does not expect a sharp growth of the segment in years to come despite believing in its huge future potential. “We foresee no significant development at this level. In recent years, coffee has transitioned from a product perceived as less healthy to one that naturally fits into a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, caffeine no longer appears to be harmful,” Frellsen explained. “However, increased awareness of the importance of sleep for health pulls in the opposite direction. In Nordic food culture, there is a loyalty to pure raw materials. Hence, [those] with this concern would choose an alternative beverage later in the day rather than a decaf coffee.”

Some analysts report that the estimated potential of decaf coffee is too exaggerated and does not correspond to some current realities. Referencing the most recent edition of Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition Survey, Matthew Barry, insight manager, Food and Beverage at Euromonitor International, said that self-reported interest in drinking less caffeine or none at all reached a new record high, at 46 percent of respondents. “You could interpret that to mean we were at the verge of an explosion in decaf. After all, that is nearly half of adults in the world saying they want to drink less caffeine. But I don’t see things that way. The reality is that caffeine is just too important for people to get through their days so this represents an aspiration more than anything else. I think this signals that people recognise that they need to take actions to mitigate some of the negative side effects of excess caffeine consumption.”

Barry noted that the data absolutely shows there has been a real explosion of products with calming, relaxing, or sleep-promoting claims across food and beverage in recent years. “Essentially, rather than switch their morning coffee to decaf, consumers are sticking with the regular coffee and looking for something in the evening to calm them down and help them sleep. People want to have it all,” he said.

The decaf coffee market is also of great interest to the global majors, many of which have significantly strengthened their positions in it in recent years. For example, illycaffè, the Italian coffee producer, considers the decaf coffee segment a priority.

Francesco Bosso, chief commercial officer of illycaffè, said the company offers decaffeinated coffee in its range with all preparations to satisfy the taste of all consumers. In recent years, he said, the

illy’s low caffeine coffee, Idillyum. Image: illycaffè

demand for such coffee has significantly increased, noting that “usually, decaffeinated coffee is preferred by one out of four consumers and mainly as an alternative to coffee in the evening.” Bosso said that illy coffee is a blend composed of 100 percent Arabica beans of the best quality, which by its nature contains a lower amount of caffeine than Robusta coffee. “In addition, for consumers who are looking for a preparation with a very low caffeine content, we also propose Idillyum, a coffee composed only of the fine Arabica variety called Laurina, grown specifically for our company in El Salvador. This product naturally has a very low caffeine content, less than one percent (a third less than the classic Arabica varieties and less than half of Robusta).”

Bosso expects the demand for decaf coffee will continue to grow, while the growth of the segment will be comparable to the dynamics of the entire coffee market.

Regarding further market prospects, most of the interviewed analysts and producers believe the demand for decaf coffee will continue to grow in years to come, as more and more customers will position it as a heathy alternative to traditional coffee. That will be primarily observed in such countries as Russia, which has low decaf coffee consumption.

Tanhuanpää believes that decaffeinated coffee will continue to increase its share driven by the wellbeing trend that has for many years already been present in many food and drink categories, for example, driving growth of non-alcoholic beer. “The need for relaxation without compromising the enjoyment of coffee is one driver for decaffeinated coffee consumption,” she said. “And according to our research, the usage situations for decaf coffee can be varied, not only limited to evening use. One motivation can be the stomach friendliness of decaf coffee.”

• Eugene Gerden is an international freelance writer who specialises in covering the global coffee, tea and agricultural industries. He works for several industry titles and may be reached at gerden.eug@gmail.com.

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Reducing the burden of data management for green coffee traders, roasters and merchants in Italy, Dimitra’s DDS platform receives, manages, analyses and stores supply chain data for seamless communication with authorities and other supply chain operators. Once a supply chain is fully mapped, Dimitra’s DDS will automatically prepare a Risk Assessment and Due Diligence Report and upon user confirmation upload all required data to the EU Information System, documenting compliance. Dimitra’s DDS platform can act as a stand alone system or be fully integrated into any third party Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) environment.

Alkaff will employ Dimitra’s tailored DDS platform and engage Dimitra’s leading industry experts to map Alkaff’s expansive supply chain, support Alkaff suppliers in farm-level data acquisition, and analyse the data provided by the suppliers to ensure a transparent, traceable, and EUDR compliant supply chain. Dimitra will integrate fully into Alkaff’s software environment and also deliver traceability data directly to Alkaff’s customer-facing application.

Maurizio Zugna, Dimitra, Italy project manager, said: “For Alkaff, the largest coffee merchant in Italy, to make this decisive step towards EUDR compliance proves once again that Rudi Albert, the company CEO, and his team understand the opportunities that come with the digitalisation of global coffee chains. Dimitra’s platform digitalises the process making compliance that much more achievable.”

Rudi Albert, CEO and founder of Alkaff, said: “At Alkaff we pair our passion for coffee with a dedicated focus on innovation. We are excited to streamline EUDR compliance with Dimitra’s advanced tools and origin experience.”

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This strategic move is set to significantly increase Dunkin’s European presence, with the first Paris store opening in 2025. QSRP will hold exclusive rights to develop Dunkin’ outlets across France.

The expansion will introduce Dunkin’ to its eleventh European market, joining Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

QSRP, supported by Luxembourg-based private equity firm, Kharis Capital, has a portfolio of 1,200 licensed restaurants in seven European countries.

It includes notable quick-service chains Burger King, Quick, NORDSEE, Go! Fish, O’Tacos and CHICK&CHEEZ.

QSRP CEO, Alessandro Preda, said, “This strategic collaboration marks a major milestone for QSRP and Dunkin’ as we join forces to offer the French consumers a great-tasting, everyday-value coffee and donut experience.

“We are committed to opening numerous Dunkin’ franchises throughout France and becoming the brand of choice to recharge your day.”

In December 2024, Triton Pacific Capital Partners’ portfolio company Tasty D’Lites signed an agreement to acquire 17 Dunkin’ restaurants in the US.

The deal included a central manufacturing location in Vermont.

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The company, which was established in 2019, is targeting the second half of 2024 for the IPO, intending to become more accessible globally.

Kalve Coffee has four café locations and a bakery in Riga, Latvia and a roastery in Jaunmārupe.

The funds from the IPO are earmarked for the opening of six new café-stores in Estonia and Lithuania by 2025, with plans to extend into other Baltic regions by 2026.

The IPO proceeds will also be used to optimise manufacturing processes and increase production capacity at the Jaunmārupe facility.

The Jaunmārupe facility, which opened in 2021, can produce 60,000kg of coffee monthly and supplies hotels, restaurants, and catering clients across Latvia, Poland, Estonia and Germany.

In addition to roasting coffee, Kalve Coffee is a distributor for Victoria Arduino and Nuova Simonelli coffee machines and Eureka grinders.

The company is also looking to expand its coffee machine rental and maintenance services.

Kalve Coffee reported a 38% increase in year-on-year sales growth in 2023, achieving a record €2.5m ($2.7m) in revenue.

The Baltic Times quoted Kalve Coffee co-founder and board member Gatis Zēmanis: “At the heart of any business is the ability to ensure a healthy cash flow, which we have been able to do. Since Kalve was founded, we have shown steady growth, increasing the company’s turnover from €0.35m to €2.49m in four years.

“This is a very positive trend and also good for the company, given that Kalve wants to address the lack of availability in the premium coffee market by providing customers with a unique specialty coffee experience.

“The fact that demand continues to grow is also evidenced by the volume of Kalve coffee sold, with almost 83 tonnes last year, an increase of 25% compared with 2022.”

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Consumers separate at home residual waste, organic waste, paper-cardboard, glass and packaging waste. Packaging waste needs to be sorted in a specific, blue-coloured recycling bin bag. Named the ‘Blue bag,’ the bags are for sale in supermarkets and convenience stores at an affordable price. Consumers fill them and they are collected at the doorstep at specific times, with a calendar per city and per area. More than 23kg of packaging waste (plastic packaging, metal packaging and drink cartons) per person is collected each year in Belgium. With this system of bags, packaging waste is separated from residual waste, with the aim to recycle it better. Today the blue bag is at cruising speed.

Through nationwide media and direct mail campaigns, Fost Plus informs citizens of new sorting initiatives. At the end of 2022, it announced that beverage capsules were allowed in the blue bag, collected at the door. This was revolutionary, as those capsules, technically speaking, are not packaging and needed specific operational adaptations in order to be sorted and recycled. Due to the capsules weight, the presence of grounds and their small size, a new sorting technology to sort the content of the blue bag per material type was implemented and new recycling outlets for that specific type was found. The project was initiated and financed by four coffee capsule producers: Delhaize grocery department chain with private label capsules, Nestlé/Nespresso, Nescafé and JDE Peet’s. Thanks to their efforts, the necessary technology to sort the capsules from the rest of the blue bag was implemented. New recycling markets were created to recycle this specific type of waste, overcoming the challenge to treat the residual coffee grounds in the capsules.

Over a year later, this new sorting method has already reached 80% of Belgians. Four out of ten capsules sold in the Belgium are recycled. The coffee capsules market and other beverage containers is booming, fuelled by the growing popularity of single-serve coffee among consumers. Capsules offer the convenience of brewing a single cup of coffee at a time, with customisable flavours and precise water and steam measurements. Additionally, an increasing variety of capsules are hitting the market, catering to tea, hot chocolate, and other hot beverages. The majority of these capsules are made of aluminium, an infinitely recyclable material in high demand in the recycling market. However, Fost Plus insists that plastic capsules also hold great recycling potential and are treated as well.

Biodegradable coffee capsules are not allowed in the bag reserved for biodegradable waste and must be thrown in the household trash. Why? Because biodegradation is not conclusive, according to the operators of the biomethanisation unit where Fost Plus’s organic waste is treated. It will be difficult for collectors to distinguish, through the bio bag, between plastic capsules (prohibited in the organic bag) or biodegradable ones.

Biodegradable capsules aside, Belgium has become one of the first countries to implement a nationwide and brand-independent recycling solution for beverage capsules, confirming its frontrunner position in recycling and waste treatment.

• Dominique Huret has been a journalist for the beverage & packaging sectors since 2005. She writes in French, English, and Dutch for several press groups. Huret is also the co-founder of Cape Decision consultancy based in Brussels, Belgium. She may be reached at dominique@capedecision.com.

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When you think about European coffee culture, your first thought is probably sipping espresso at the counter in Rome or café au lait on the boulevards of Paris or perhaps the vibrant specialty scene you can find on high streets across the continent.

And while hot coffee continues to dominate the European market, ‘the times they are changing’, with consumers increasingly seeking cold options. Within this, ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee is a particularly exciting space offering consumers convenience, innovation, and a fresh experience.

In this article, we will explore what is driving this trend, where the trend is most profound, where it is going next, and how players in the industry can capitalise on the growing ‘cold rush’.

What’s driving the ‘Cold Rush’?

One of the things we at Finlays love about the coffee industry is that it never stands still; there is a constant thirst for innovation and bringing new experiences to its consumers.

Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the RTD coffee space, where we are seeing huge amounts of innovation to bring new experiences to consumers – and particularly younger consumers – who are seeking convenience, novelty and innovative flavour profiles and combinations.

Convenience is particularly influential. The ability for great tasting coffee, which can be enjoyed immediately, anywhere, at any time offers a huge benefit to consumers.

So, while Europe might trail the US market when it comes to RTD coffee, it is catching up fast.

Where is RTD coffee being embraced?

The key markets today are in Western Europe, where RTD coffee is reaching significant scale, with further high growth forecasted. Germany is currently the largest market and has reached over half a billion dollars (USD $501 million in 2023) with 6 percent CAGR predicted up to 2028.

The UK is hot on its heels, currently valued at $340 million, but with predicted growth at 15 percent CAGR between 2024 and 28, per Euromonitor International. In fact, according to Euromonitor, the UK is forecasted to reach over $700 million by 2028, which would make it the largest market in Europe.

Multiple emerging markets

There is good growth potential elsewhere as well, with the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey all expected to reach over $250 million by 2028. We are also seeing RTD coffee emerging in markets with high coffee consumption, where younger populations are driving market trends (such as Turkey, Sweden, and Spain), and where there is a high dairy intake (Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium).

Turkey, for example, expects more than 19 percent growth between 2024 and 2028, with high popularity of RTD coffee products such as Nescafé’s Xpress.

Where is acceptance slow?

Uptake has been slower in Italy, where coffee consumption remains fairly traditional and penetration of multinational foodservice operators is lower, therefore not driving the overall trend for iced coffee as effectively. With that said, even in traditional coffee markets, we are seeing younger consumers in this market beginning to make the switch.

Cold brew vs iced coffee

Within RTD coffee, a segment we are particularly excited about at Finlays is cold brew. While this segment is still in its early days, high growth is predicted over the coming years.

And to be clear – it is not a question of cold brew versus iced coffee – there is plenty of headroom in the European market for both, catering as they do to different consumer needs. Cold brew’s flavour profile and perceived smooth taste make it a perfect solution for an elevated offering.

In fact, the critical challenge facing the cold brew segment is around consumer education of what cold brew is, and the benefits it offers compared to iced coffee. However, this is something we are now starting to see thanks to major foodservice operators such as Starbucks featuring cold brew on its menus.

Cold brew’s trajectory in Europe

To understand the future of cold brew coffee in Europe, it is useful to look to the US market where cold brew has experienced astronomical growth over the last ten years or so, and now accounts for a fifth of all consumer spending on RTD coffee in retail. In the US, lots of brands, such as Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee, are effectively balancing their portfolios with both iced coffee and cold brew to target different market segments and consumers.

Following that path, cold brew is starting to emerge across Europe, and particularly in the UK, as well as Germany, primarily being driven by younger consumers who are seeking an elevated experience.
However, until now, the European market has struggled with supply challenges, with accessibility of high-quality cold brew concentrates hampering growth.

What’s next for RTD coffee in Europe?

RTD coffee is a hugely exciting opportunity for brand owners in Europe, with high growth predicted over the coming years. Here are four key trends to watch out for:

1. The Cold Rush. Expect to see consumers continue to explore cold coffee options, establishing RTD as a firm favourite across Europe.
2. Blurring lines. The blurring of RTD coffee with energy drinks is another key dynamic, with coffee offering a strong and compelling alternative to traditional energy drinks.
3. Cold brew enters the mainstream. With companies such as Starbucks, Blank Street, as well as independent coffee shops now offering cold brew, the stage is set for cold brew to enter the mainstream. Cold brew’s visibility will only increase, driving consumer awareness and understanding of the unique benefits it offers.
4. Innovation. As always in the coffee industry, we expect to see a huge amount of exciting innovation in the category. Recent examples include Joe and The Juice offering cold brew tonics, the continued use of CBD for functionality, and of course, the continued fusion of coffee and alcohol in applications like RTD cold brew martinis.

It will be fascinating to see what other innovations we see over the coming years.

• Thom Walton is group head of marketing and communications at Finlays, a leading global supplier of tea, coffee and extract ingredients and solutions to brand owners, retailers, and foodservice operations. Starting his career in creative marketing, Walton joined Finlays in 2019 where he is responsible for global marketing and communications. He uses his personal passion for tea and coffee in all their formats to support Finlays to connect with their customers around the world.

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The vibrant three-day event was packed with significant activities, including the launch of the Green Coffee Connect programme and the Retail Buyers Lounge in Europe. These new features provided platforms for learning, networking, and fostering business partnerships. The Sustainable World of Coffee initiative, in collaboration with Caravela Coffee and supported by Barista Attitude, inspired positive changes within the coffee industry, says the organisation, such as planting over 6,000 trees, supporting 150+ farms, and offsetting 1,600-2,000 tons of CO₂.

Attendees also enjoyed the Best New Product Competition, Coffee Design Awards, Cupping Exchange, and two Roaster Villages and the event was highlighted by several awards programmes.

A partnership was announced between Cup of Excellence, Alliance for Coffee Excellence, and Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). This collaboration aims to set new industry standards and enhance the entire coffee ecosystem. Key initiatives include supporting the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) form, increasing visibility at CoE competitions, offering collaborative training programmes, and launching educational initiatives to advance industry skills.

World of Coffee Copenhagen also marked the next phase of the SCA Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), introducing three new cupping standards, a beta version of the extrinsic assessment, and updated supporting documents. These resources aim to integrate the CVA into daily practice, fostering a growing community of professionals dedicated to discovering value in coffee. Start using the SCA Coffee Value Assessment and its tools at sca.coffee/value-assessment.

The 2024 Best New Product Awards winners are:

• People’s Choice: SQUEAKY – The King Eddy (Electric)
• Commercial Coffee Preparation & Serving Equipment: Bellwether Coffee – “Bellweather Shop Roaster”
• Consumer Coffee Preparation & Serving Equipment: Fellow – “Aiden Precision Coffee Maer”
• Coffee Accessories: Hauck Tamper – “Vibra Tamper”
• Open Class: Kavekalmar – “ROASTINO Manual Roaster”
• Specialty Non-Coffee Beverage Stand alone: DRYK Brew – “DRYK Pea Barista”
• Specialty Coffee Beverage Additive: Beyond the Bean – “Sweetbird Popcorn Syrup”

Four World Coffee Championships were held, including World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, World Coffee Roasting, and Cezve/Ibrik Championships.

World of Coffee Copenhagen was made possible through the generous support of the 2024 Portrait Country, Peru. “We are very proud to be the Portrait Country at World of Coffee 2024, showcasing the quality of Peruvian specialty coffees to international buyers. Coffee has become one of Peru’s traditional agricultural export products, with exports totaling USD 829 million in 2023. This participation represents a great opportunity for our producers,” said Claricia Tirado, executive president of PROMPERÚ. The event was also supported by Host Sponsor BWT water+more, Platinum Sponsor Barista Attitude, and Gold Sponsor Alpro.

Save the dates for upcoming events:

• World of Coffee Dubai: 10-12 February 2025, World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE
• Specialty Coffee Expo: 25-27 April 2025, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, USA
• World of Coffee Jakarta: 15-17 May 2025, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Indonesia
• World of Coffee Geneva: 26-28 June 2025, Palexpo Exhibition and Convention Center, Geneva, Switzerland

For more information, visit sca.coffee.

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