Illycaffè and JDE reveal coffee capsule licensing agreement

Illycaffè has partnered with JAB-owned Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) to produce and distribute Illy-branded aluminium capsules, as the coffee firm targets growth outside Italy.

The companies said in a statement that JDE will produce the capsules “to meet the Illycaffè standard of excellence”, and will make them available on the global market in the first half of 2019.

JDE will produce and distribute the new capsule internationally in the retail trade. In order to maximise synergies with “Illy omni-channel presence”, Illycaffè will be in charge of distribution in Italy and in all the other sales channels.

Illycaffè CEO Massimiliano Pogliani said: “This agreement reflects our mission: delight quality of life lovers all over the world with the greatest coffee nature can provide, enhanced by sustainable practices and technologies and the beauty of the arts. We found in JAB the right partner for this new business.

“Making the Illy experience more and more accessible to consumers globally is fundamental for our strategy and it is the reason why we decided to enter such a broad market standard through a licensing agreement.

“The quality leader and the market leader are putting together their excellences for the benefit of the customer, who is the focus of this project. Millions of coffee lovers will be able to greatly benefit from their freedom of choice. And this is very exciting”.

JDE CFO Fabien Simon added: “We are very pleased and honoured to form this strategic partnership with Illy, a global leader in the premium coffee space, to expand its coffee experience into a new segment globally.

“Through the JDE platform, JAB has a rich history of more than 265 years of coffee expertise across a variety of technologies, with leadership positions in key coffee markets around the world in modern and traditional trade.

“Through this trademark licensing agreement for the production and distribution of Illy-branded aluminium capsules, we are committed to deliver the quality consistent with the world reference Illy in-cup experience.”

Earlier this month JDE acquired Sweden-based coffee firm JOBmeal from Valedo Partners Fund II for an undisclosed sum.