Seattle / WA. (sc) Starbucks announced it plans to sell the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand to Nestle, with which the company established the Global Coffee Alliance in 2018. This transaction will further strengthen the Global Coffee Alliance by allowing both companies to focus on their core strengths.
«We continue to deepen our partnership with Nestle to deliver the best of the Starbucks Experience to our customers in channels outside of our retail stores,» said Michael Conway, group president, Starbucks International and Channel Development. «We’re confident that Nestle will continue to grow the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand as we focus on our strategy to elevate the premium coffee experience for consumers through the Starbucks brand.»
Since forming the Global Coffee Alliance in 2018, Nestle and Starbucks have introduced a wide range of premium coffee products to new markets at a fast pace – including whole bean coffee, roast and ground coffee as well as Starbucks capsules for Nespresso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto proprietary systems. Today, Nestle distributes Starbucks consumer products and foodservice beverages across more than 80 markets outside Starbucks retail stores under the Global Coffee Alliance.
«Our partnership with Starbucks has confirmed Nestle’s leading position in the dynamic and growing global coffee market,» said David Rennie, Head of Nestle Coffee Brands. «With the well-known Seattle’s Best Coffee brand, we will continue to build our leadership in coffee by offering consumers more choice for their everyday coffee.»
Through the Global Coffee Alliance, Nestle and Starbucks will continue to closely work together to develop new, innovative products and go-to market strategies to amplify the reach and expand the unique experience of the Starbucks brand locally and globally. Starbucks expects to close this transaction by end of 2022, subject to respective Board and customary regulatory approvals.
