Lavazza buys coffee producer Mars Drinks

Italian coffee brand Lavazza has acquired Mars Drinks, a subsidiary of Mars that develops coffee vending machines and Flavia coffee capsules. Together, Lavazza wants to grow internationally.

Growth in coffee at the office

The (former) subsidiary of candy bar manufacturer Mars claims to be a leader in the field of office coffee service and automatic distribution. The company turned over some 350 million dollars (300 million euro) and employs almost 900 people, and Lavazza wants to its newest acquisition to continue its expansion strategy to core markets such as North America, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. How much the Italian coffee maker was willing to pay for the acquisition has not been disclosed.

For Lavazza, this B2B activity is an interesting branch for growth, according to CEO Antonio Baravalle. At Mars Incorporated, everyone believes the acquisition is guaranteed to bring about long-term success. Lavazza has a yearly turnover exceeding two billion euro. The group is still in family hands as it has been since its inception in 1895.