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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illycaffè has long been committed to mitigating the effects of climate change throughout the entire supply chain, starting with coffee cultivation, for which it promotes the sustainable model of regenerative agriculture. This model allows for proper nourishment of the plants, naturally regenerating the soil, and thus reducing CO2 emissions. Additionally, this new type of cultivation allows for an improvement in the health of the ecosystem thanks to the increased biodiversity of the species used for ground cover and soil dynamics. In the Cerrado Mineiro region, where the company has been working hand in hand with local producers for over thirty years, the Arabica Selection Brazil coffee has been grown by applying the best regenerative practices certified regenagri.

“The Arabica Selection Brazil Cerrado Mineiro is the result of the relationship we have built over the years with coffee producers and the Federation of Producers of Cerrado Mineiro. We have shared the urgency of finding a solution to the effects of climate change,” comments Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “Aware that this challenge can only be overcome by joining forces, we have identified the best techniques for ecosystem adaptation, mitigation, and regeneration, producing the first 100% Arabica coffee sourced from certified regenerative agriculture, as certified by regenagri.”

The reduction of natural resource exploitation, soil regeneration, and the preservation of biodiversity and future land productivity are some of the results achieved through the application of regenerative agronomic practices selected by illycaffè. This model shifts the focus from the plant to the soil, offering the best natural solutions to nourish, strengthen, and make it fertile and resilient to external threats.

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Since its inception, the Università del Caffè has trained over 350,000 individuals, including coffee producers, baristas, restaurateurs, and coffee lovers. The institution’s mission is to enhance and elevate every aspect of the coffee supply chain, from cultivation to the final cup. This commitment is reflected in its robust educational programs, delivered by a faculty of 50 highly qualified instructors certified by ACS Italia, a skills certification body that attests the level of knowledge and ability in training.

“Training is a strategic lever for the success of a company, an industry, and for the development of individuals,” said Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “It also embodies passion, curiosity, and a desire to expand one’s knowledge. The Università del Caffè exemplifies how a culture of quality and sustainability can be conveyed through innovative and engaging education.”

With branches across different continents, the Università del Caffè offers a diverse range of courses tailored to meet local needs while maintaining a global standard of excellence. This international presence ensures that specialized knowledge is accessible to a wide audience, allowing for a nuanced understanding of regional coffee cultures and practices.

The courses are structured to cater to various stakeholders in the coffee supply chain:

• For coffee producers: The Università del Caffè provides in-depth training on the latest agronomic techniques, tailored to the specific conditions of diverse growing regions. This helps farmers optimize their production and maintain high-quality standards.
• For hospitality professionals: Baristas, restaurateurs, and other hospitality workers receive specialized training on coffee preparation, as well as insights into effective business management and marketing strategies to enhance their operations.
• For coffee enthusiasts: The Università del Caffè offers tasting sessions and informational courses designed to deepen the appreciation of coffee. Participants learn to recognize the unique flavors and aromas of coffees from around the world, fostering a greater understanding of coffee as an art and a science.

As the Università del Caffè celebrates this milestone, it remains committed to its mission of spreading the culture of quality coffee and ensuring that everyone in the coffee community, from producer to consumer, can benefit from its wealth of knowledge and expertise.

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B Corp certification is issued by B Lab, an international organisation that measures corporate environmental and social performance according to the standards established by the B Impact Assessment (BIA); it reviews its analyses every three years and issues re-certifications. In 2024 illycaffè obtained a score of 90.4, a significant improvement over its 2021 certification.

“We are proud of the result achieved, which testifies to illycaffè’s commitment to growing in a sustainable, responsible and transparent way,” stated Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè, “The choice of pursuing our business goals by creating lasting and shared value along the entire supply chain is a positive economic model that, as a B Corp we are committed to promoting, because we are convinced that now more than ever, the private sector must also do its part to support the transition to models that guarantee the future of people and the environment”.

“Being a Certified B Corp company means operating according to the criteria of stakeholder governance, meeting B Lab’s high standards of social and environmental impact and transparency,” states Anna Puccio, managing director of B Lab Italia. “I congratulate illycaffè for again passing the challenging B Impact Assessment process in all five standards, an achievement that confirms its improved impacts internationally. illycaffè is an inspiring example for all companies globally to advance toward systemic change, a common and necessary goal of the entire B Corp Movement.”

The most significant progress over the last three years, illycaffè says, concerned strengthening its sustainability governance through a company task force comprising the entirety of C-levels; the inclusion of ESG goals in the incentive package for top management; the evolution of its reporting system to encompass integrated reporting, which is reflected in the increasingly strong links between its business strategy, economic and financial performance, and the social and environmental context in which the Group operates; the continued strengthening of the role that ESG issues play in selecting and assessing partners along the supply chain for goods and services; the recognition of the University of Coffee as an effective training tool along the entire value chain; the achievement of gender equality certification testifying to the adoption of a systemic approach to this issue; and a stronger commitment to fighting climate change through the adoption of an SPTi Net Zero target, as reflected in the company’s steady reduction of its carbon footprint (-5.3% in 2023 compared to 2022, using a market-based calculation methodology).

Environment

In order to protect environmental resources, illycaffè has continued to improve its performance in crucial sectors such as energy efficiency, the mitigation of emissions, the promotion of regenerative agriculture, the optimisation of water resources and materials, and the application of a circular economy model by reducing waste and generating positive environmental impacts, including through the establishment of strategic partnerships. In 2023 the company cut its energy consumption by 12.9% and 95.5% of the electricity it used came from renewable sources (+19.2 percentage points compared to 2022). This was made possible thanks to constant improvements along the production chain, such as the development of a new software for coffee roasting machinery that cut consumption during stand-by phases by 20%.

The responsible supply chain created by the company through effective collaborative efforts with its suppliers is a key part of illycaffè’s development strategy. Ambitious targets such as Net Zero1 can only be achieved through effective collaboration with suppliers. This is the spirit underpinning the Sustainability in Procurement project that was launched in 2022 with the goal of improving monitoring along all supply chains, including to reflect the requirements set out under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which defines the obligation of companies with regards to the effective and potential negative impacts on human rights and the environment of their activities and those of their supply chains and business partners.

Workers

illycaffè has always aimed to create an equitable and inclusive workplace. It pursues this goal by orienting its resource management and development strategies towards promoting a culture based on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), leveraging the uniqueness of each individual and fostering their professional growth, and eschewing any and all forms of discrimination. The Policy for Inclusion and Gender Equality that was adopted in 2023, and the establishment of a DE&I Committee to spearhead initiatives in support of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy reflect this commitment. This effort helped the company obtain the UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification on gender equality, which acknowledges a company’s commitment to adopting a systemic approach and a cultural change aiming to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.

With an eye to constantly improving talent management and remuneration policies, the company mapped out its management and executive staff in terms of the importance of their position, scope of responsibilities and impact on business (so-called grades), comparing the salaries of comparable positions and providing an additional analytical tool to support its remuneration policies. The analysis showed that at the same grade/level, the average remuneration of women amounts to 97.2% of the average remuneration of men.

In 2023, the base salary of women, calculated through a weighted average correlated to the number of female employees in each professional category, amounted to 94.1% of the base salary of men, an increase over 2022 (+2.8 percentage points).

Governance

The ESG Task Force was established in 2022 to facilitate the interaction of all necessary company functions and skills to effectively implement the sustainability plan.

The ESG Taskforce, which comprises the CEO, the executives reporting directly to her, and the heads of the risk & compliance office and the legal office, defines and coordinates strategic priorities, the company’s sustainability goals, and the necessary investment plans to achieve them. In addition, it monitors project advancement and promotes the dissemination of a corporate sustainability culture within the organisation.

Customers

Training is one of the pillars of the corporate strategy to facilitate social growth. The unique training offer of the University of Coffee, the centre of excellence created by illycaffè in 1999 to promote and disseminate coffee culture worldwide, is a source of value along the entire production chain. Thanks to its 23 campuses worldwide and its itinerant courses, the University of Coffee has trained over 348,000 people so far. In 2024, University of Coffee docents were certified by ACS Italia, attesting to their levels of knowledge and educational skills.

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illycaffè has long been committed to mitigating the effects of climate change throughout the entire supply chain, starting with coffee cultivation, for which it promotes the sustainable model of regenerative agriculture. This model allows for proper nourishment of the plants, naturally regenerating the soil, and thus reducing CO2 emissions. Additionally, this new type of cultivation allows for an improvement in the health of the ecosystem thanks to the increased biodiversity of the species used for ground cover and soil dynamics. In the Cerrado Mineiro region, where the company has been working hand in hand with local producers for over thirty years, the Arabica Selection Brazil coffee has been grown by applying the best regenerative practices certified regenagri.

“The Arabica Selection Brazil Cerrado Mineiro is the result of the relationship we have built over the years with coffee producers and the Federation of Producers of Cerrado Mineiro. We have shared the urgency of finding a solution to the effects of climate change,” commented Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “Aware that this challenge can only be overcome by joining forces, we have identified the best techniques for ecosystem adaptation, mitigation, and regeneration, producing the first 100% Arabica coffee sourced from certified regenerative agriculture, as regenagri certified.”

The reduction of natural resource exploitation, soil regeneration, and the preservation of biodiversity and future land productivity are some of the results achieved through the application of regenerative agronomic practices selected by illycaffè. This model shifts the focus from the plant to the soil, offering the best natural solutions to nourish, strengthen, and make it fertile and resilient to external threats.

The Arabica Selection Brazil Cerrado Mineiro, with its hints of caramel and nuts, is available in 250g cans in both whole bean and ground versions. The products can be purchased from illy.com from 1 October and Waitrose from 16 October.

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Designed in collaboration with IPG Coffee Table, realised by the production house, Think Cattleya, and directed by the Danish director, Martin Aamund, the campaign, which will air starting on 18 September, revolves around a key concept, “Quality loves details”, and showcases an exceptionally high-quality coffee made unique by the careful attention to every single detail, from selection of the coffee beans to the final sip.

The campaign details the journey of illy coffee and begins in the illy lab in Trieste, where among manuscripts, sacks of coffee, and botanical illustrations, Matilda De Angelis welcomes the viewer, guiding them along a voyage to discover all the details that make illy unique. Scene after scene, the viewer travels from the coffee bean to the cup, from the coffee plantation to the illy café, discovering the various necessary components to make excellent coffee, beginning with the first fundamental step: selection. This process begins in the plantation, where only 1% of the best Arabica beans from over 30 countries worldwide are grown, and continues in the illy laboratory, where only the flawless coffee beans are selected to create the blend.

This attention to detail is the thread that runs through the campaign, with a focus on illycaffé’s maxim: “a tireless, daily search for quality all along the value chain, from the producer to the consumer.’

“I am delighted to be the protagonist of the new illy campaign, a brand with which I share the passion for aesthetic research and attention to details that make the difference. I am a perfectionist and every day I work to continue improving myself,” explained international actress, Matilda De Angelis.

“Quality Loves Details” describes the desire to offer people a superior quality coffee through illy’s obsession for details: selection in the first place, regenerative agriculture, the pressurisation of the cans that protects and preserves the coffee’s aromas over time, and finally the illy cup, designed by Matteo Thun to enhance and valorise the purity of the espresso.

The campaign begins by taking the viewer to an illy plantation, and continues in a lab, with rows of coffee beans geometrically arranged on a workbench, where the process to select and balance the nine varieties of Arabica coffee that comprise the unique illy blend takes place. Finally, the viewer is taken to an illy café, where a barista offers a cup of coffee to Matilda De Angelis, who takes a sip and reveals to the viewer: “quality loves details.”

“From selecting the very best beans to our revolutionary, patented preservation system and coffee cups designed specifically to enhance the coffee’s flavours: here at illy, our attention to detail is the measure of the passion and love we put into things,” said Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “The goal of this campaign is to give a face to the most painstaking and important aspects we attend to everyday behind the scenes to offer our coffee to our customers, and we are happy to do so with Matilda De Angelis”.

The communication campaign will run in several different formats: digital ads on asset displays and videos, 30-second and 15-second TV ads and print ads.

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It features large windows to integrate the indoor space with it’s location and surrounding environment. Inside, the space is fitted out with a chandelier and displays of the history of the illy Art Collectiont. At the centre of the café, is the large bar counter that combines a white marble counter-top with the illy-red front. Next to the entrance is a mosaic depicting Xanti Schawinsky’s famous 1934 ad for illycaffè.

The use of natural, sustainable materials such as wood and of warm coffee tones gives the premises a relaxed and elegant ambiance, ideal for an artistic, contemporary café. Here patrons can experience illy  while admiring the iconic skyline of the city’s most futuristic neighbourhood.

“This new cafè illy expresses the personality and philosophy of our brand. It is one more establishment in the city where the public can enjoy an illy coffee while immersing themselves in the interests and passions inextricably tied to it: art, culture, design, and the utmost quality,” commented Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè.

The illy City Life menu features an array of coffee-based beverages, snacks and small dishes throughout the day. So that clients may enjoy the illy experience at home, the café features a retail corner with a selection of illy products: coffee machines, limited-edition cups, breakfast accessories, chocolate, tea, and fruit preserves.

Opening hours: every day from 8:00 to 21.00

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Climate change and the continued weather unpredictability have prompted agriculture and manufacturing industries to look deeper into their practices and their impact. Growing food with weather shifts wiping out crops and depleted soil beds not providing adequate nutrients is increasingly challenging. Sustainable and organic methods can ensure that no further harm is being done; however, there is increased recognition of the need for incremental positive changes in the atmosphere and the soil.

On 16 January, the World Economic Forum reported the need to take immediate action to create a nature positive economy. This includes recognising regenerative agriculture for both its potential to address the climate crisis, while also cultivating new businesses and jobs.

Keeping carbon in the earth and plants

One way to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is through biological sequestering, which naturally occurs in grasslands, forests and soil. In a recent study published by The Journal of Agricultural Science, researchers Iticha and Niguse explored coffee plants’ contribution to sequestering carbon in agroforestry systems of Southwestern Ethiopia. The study looked at coffee forests’ role in mitigating climate change to quantify coffee plants’ contribution to the overall carbon stock of coffee agroforestry systems. The study’s results demonstrated the interdependency between crops, specifically, that the carbon sequestration varied with the coffee management system and type of shade tree. “Albizia julibrissin” (mimosa or silk tree plant) was the most compatible plant, followed by the mixed tree-shaded stratum and the “Syzgium”-shaded coffee stratum.

According to the Rodale Institute, the widespread adoption of regenerative organic practices could sequester more than 100 percent of the annual carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, the organic matter in soil has up to four times more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation. However, to sequester the carbon in the ground, there is a need for a continual supply of organic matter. This organic matter is vital to both prevent carbon from leaching into the atmosphere and to support microbial life and plant life.

Regenerative agricultural practices are increasingly being recognised as the key to achieving net positive and, in turn, helping repair the atmosphere and infuse nutrients back into the soil. It is a nature-positive agricultural system that mimics natural processes in the ecosystems. Through regenerative agriculture, agroecosystems can be designed to improve soil health, biodiversity, the carbon sequestration rate, and increase the economic resilience of farmers.

On its website, Nespresso explains that regenerative agriculture “is a holistic agricultural system that works in harmony with its local environment. Practices such as using cover crops, crop rotation, no-tillage, diversification (when possible, with trees) and others are applied for that purpose.” Adopting regenerative agriculture practices has been proven to have a widescale impact in addition to carbon sequestering, ecosystem resilience and improved soil health such as developing more nutrient-dense foods.

Recent research from the Farming Systems Trial conducted by the Rodale Institute revealed that these practices could produce a more nutrient-dense crop and be an effective model to withstand the stressors of extreme weather changes. Their 40-year report showed a positive impact on soil health, water infiltration, carbon capture, and yields when adopting regenerative organic practices. In addition, the trial results supported that regenerative organic plots could sustain their crops in extreme weather conditions. “The Farming Systems Trial (FST) is one of our most significant research projects,” Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer said. “In fact, with FST’s 40 years of accumulated data and findings, it is fair to say that it is the most consequential study of organic agriculture anywhere.”

Despite this long history with regenerative practices, conventional farmers have only recently recognised regenerative as a potential solution to sustain and grow their businesses. Growth in the tea and coffee sectors is on a positive trajectory, including adopting the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROC) certification to help communicate these agricultural practices to consumers. Equator Coffee, Heirloom Coffee Roasters, Canyon Coffee, and Groundwork Coffee are four coffee roasters using the ROC certification, obtaining certified coffee from producer groups based in Nicaragua and Sierra Leone.

On 6 March, the 2023 Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California, reported that 63 CPG brands attending the event support regenerative agriculture, an increase of ten companies from the previous year. Regenerative agriculture was a topic of interest this year, with the Expo West recognising and celebrating leaders in regenerative agriculture and acknowledging the challenges these companies have faced. “The keynote speaker on the first day at the Expo West really put forth regenerative agriculture as the top solution to address climate change today,” said Michael Ham, founder, Wild Orchid Tea, Mt Kisco, New York. “People are waking up to the fact that we cannot extract any more from the Earth, and we need to replenish what we’ve removed.”

Natural Products Expo West reported that there are several barriers preventing widespread adoption, including a limited supply chain, difficulty in implementing the practices, and a lack of clarity on how to communicate the value to the end consumer. Only 4 percent of US consumers are aware of regenerative practices; however, 49 percent of US consumers identified as either being health and/or environmentally motivated, providing a potential market for regenerative products to tap into.

“The biggest thing brands need to look at is the purchasing power of the younger demographics,” said Ham. “This group is looking for brands very focused on sustainability, environmental consciousness and how they treat their workers.” Wild Orchid Tea has been slowly building awareness of the virtues of regenerative agriculture through education and its product line. This year, one of their primary areas of focus is on growing their retail market, which includes launching a plant-based tea bag line providing consumers with a convenient, high-quality regenerative tea product.

Within the last five years, several significant players in both the tea and coffee industries have become advocates for this method of agriculture, providing resources and training for farmers wanting to convert the farms. Established by Filipe Villela and Marco de Boer, reNature, based in the Netherlands, was created to support coffee farmers contemplating switching to regenerative practices. The company supports farmers with various tools, including training programs and strategic advisory consultations, to aid them with the transition to a regenerative farming system.

In its Positive Cup report, Nespresso emphasised the need to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture. This includes the commitment to reduce the use of agrochemicals, and adopt nature-based practices, carbon removal, including a commitment to plant four million trees each year, and the adoption of crop diversification, and reduced tillage, to infuse the health of the soil, and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Nespresso is working in conjunction with reNature to both define key regenerative agricultural practices in the coffee sector and develop an analytical framework to evaluate both the costs and benefits of these practices. One of the first adopters of these practices is the Guima Café, Brazil, where they are currently implementing regenerative agriculture practices, beginning with a 10-hectare demonstration plot, with the goal of scaling it to 850 hectares.

“I think this year is going to be a seminal moment for regenerative brands,” shared Ham. He shared that his booth received a lot of interest and support about regenerative practices throughout Expo West, including questions from major retailers and tea brands. “It (regenerative agriculture) is going to be a focus at these top retailers. This increased attention on regenerative practices, and products, is vital to help increase consumer awareness of this agricultural practices, and in turn, drive sales.”

Led by its chairman, Andreas Illy, who has long-been a proponent, illycaffè has been a passionate advocate for virtuous (regenerative) agriculture in both the coffee industry, and in agriculture in general. The Trieste, Italy-based company aims to be carbon neutral by 2033. Recognising the need to increase consumer engagement in the necessity of supporting regenerative agriculture practices, illycaffè launched its #cupsidedown campaign, which was introduced in an Illy Art Collection this past October with the artist Matteo Attruia. The goal is to increase consumer awareness of the necessity of a circular economy, with virtuous agriculture being an essential piece of the puzzle.

“The upside-down cup, symbol of this campaign, has been designed to propose a change of perspective, a different way of living and observing our daily lives, starting from a natural gesture such as drinking an illy coffee, which must not be appreciated only for its taste but also for the value it generates for people and for the Planet,” explained Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “To amplify the positive impact it is necessary to stimulate a change of perspective, a new way of thinking about the use of resources that favour the transition from a linear economic model to a circular one. By working together, with a sense of responsibility, we can drive the transaction towards a sustainable future.”

Although regenerative agriculture is beginning to grow into various sectors, there are still several gaps across the supply chain. “It is still difficult to find farmers who have adopted regenerative practices,” said Ham, “We are very lucky to have partnered with a farmer who’s been doing it for over 30 years.” The tea for Wild Orchid is sourced from a wild tea farm on Jeju Island, where the the plot is nourished by volcanic organic soil.

ReGen Brands podcasters Kyle Krull and Anthony Corsaro labelled 2022 as the year regenerative agriculture took root. They emphasised that for regenerative brands to achieve success and, in turn, long-term sustainability, there needs to be a commitment to developing a regenerative market. They shared that there is a continued need for unified certification and standards to reduce consumer confusion. One recommendation they had was for the brands to work together to create a unified messaging strategy, including finding a way to define their values. Their 17 February podcast spoke with Abianne Falla, cofounder of CatSpring Yaupon, Cat Spring, Texas.

Falla’s company is highly diversified, selling sustainably wild grown yaupon as a wholesale and retail tisane and as an ingredient supplier for those seeking regeneratively grown Yaupon tea. “2011 was the driest year in Texas,” shared Falla on the podcast. “Everything was looking like wilted spinach, the only thing that wasn’t dying was Yaupon. We’ve always known the plant but had no idea that it was anything but a nuisance until this drought.” Yaupon Tea has 11 acres of certified regenerative organic yaupon, all of which are sustainably wild grown.

“Just like in other categories, the main driver for people to switch from the way that they’ve always done it comes from their philosophy,” said Ham. “If they understand that they can make their land better, make the soil better, grow a healthier crop and do it in a way that is sequestering carbon and reversing climate change, but in the end, it comes down to profitability.” Regenerative organic tea and coffee farms are still in their infancy, but the potential for a more resilient crop, resulting in higher yields, better quality products, and higher profits, are strong motivators to adopt these practices.

• Anne-Marie Hardie is a freelance writer, professor and speaker based in Barrie, Ontario. She may be reached at: annemariehardie1@gmail.com.

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Scocchia, a member of illycaffè’s board since 2019, will take the reins from Massimiliano Pogliani, who first joined illy six years ago as the first outside CEO to manage the family-owned business. He ran the global organisation for two consecutive three-year mandates starting in 2016. Pogliani will remain in his role until 31 December 2021.

In announcing the executive change, the company stated that in view of the bullish capital markets and the desire to start a stock listing process, in addition to Pogliani’s interest in pursuing other professional opportunities, the board agreed to bring forward the expiry date of his second term to ensure cohesive management for the entire 2022 financial year.

As illycaffè’s first CEO from outside the illy family, Pogliani contributed to the company’s growth, especially in household consumption within portioned coffee segment and in online sales, as well as realising sustainability achievements and results confirmed by obtaining B-Corp certification.

“With Rhône’s minority stake acquisition in our company this year, Massimiliano Pogliani completed a process of managerial development at illycaffè that he was appointed to accomplish in his role since 2016”, said Andrea Illy, chairman of Trieste, Italy-based illycaffè. “I thank him for his work, and I particularly appreciate his leadership that allowed the company to be resilient during the pandemic including growth in the digital and food channels. For the new expansion cycle that will start in 2022 and in view of a future stock listing, we decided to entrust the leadership to Cristina Scocchia, a talented manager recognised in the development of brands with high aesthetic and experiential content.”

With a degree in business and economics from Bocconi University in Milan and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Turin, Cristina Scocchia has been CEO of Kiko SpA since July 2017. Previously she worked at Procter & Gamble, holding positions of increasing responsibility, and at L’Oréal Italia, where she held the positions of CEO and chairwoman. She is also a member of the board of directors of Essilor Luxottica.

The announcement of Scocchia as the new CEO follows a series of strategic moves and corporate changes that have taken place within illycaffè over the last year. In November 2020, the company announced it sold a minority stake of illycaffè to affiliates of Rhône Capital, a global private equity firm with a focus on investments in businesses with pan-European, North American or transatlantic presence. In April of this year, illycaffè became the first Italian coffee company to obtain the B Corp certification, awarded to companies that meet the highest standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and responsibility. B-Corp certified companies operate to optimise their positive impact on employees, their communities, and the environment.

Additionally, illycaffè named Jack Edwards president of New York-based illy North America, effective 19 April. He succeeded Barry Shelton, who spent 18 years with the company.

illycaffè also announced that the 6th Annual Ernesto illy International Coffee Awards, which the company bestows upon the best producer of sustainable coffee, will take place 2 December, virtually for the second year in a row.

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