200 Degrees sold to major cafè group
Nottingham-based coffee roaster 200 Degrees has been sold to the Caffè Nero Group.
Rumours of a change in ownership at 200 Degrees had been circulating for some time.
The firm, which operates 21 sites across the North and Midlands, was set up in 2012 by hospitality entrepreneurs Rob Darby, who won Leader of the Year at the East Midlands Leadership Awards in 2022, and Tom Vincent. In March, it was revealed that the firm was working with M&A advisors from AlixPartners to explore expansion options.
Now 200 Degrees has been sold to Caffe Nero. It will sit alongside Caffè Nero Group’s other brands: Caffè Nero, Coffee#1, Harris+Hoole and Aroma.
The Nero Group aims to expand the 200 Degrees brand as part of its growth strategy in the UK.
Gerry Ford, CEO of Caffè Nero said: “I’m delighted to welcome 200 Degrees into the Caffè Nero family. It is a fantastic brand with an emphasis on great coffee and service combined with a local community-based feel that matches perfectly the ethos of Caffe Nero Group.
“200 Degrees has a solid, loyal customer base and has developed a strong regional position. Our intention is to support 200 Degrees to continue its growth journey and allow the brand to operate separately alongside the other brands in Caffè Nero Group.”
200 Degrees managing director, Stephen Fern said: “We are thrilled that the strong market position and growth potential of 200 Degrees has been recognised within the sector, and we are excited to see where our brand can go now that we have become part of the Caffè Nero Group family.
“Caffè Nero Group is a great partner for us with its commitment to premium coffee and its strong values as a family-owned company. 200 Degrees itself is a premium brand with a commitment to delivering great experiences. The four pillars of our business – our shops, wholesale, e-commerce platform and barista schools – have been bringing better coffee to millions of people across the UK for the last 12 years, delivering excellent customer service and a commitment to breaking down the barriers within speciality coffee.
“With this new partnership, we look forward to introducing even more people to our beans, our people and our passion for creating experiences to remember.”
200 Degrees was backed by a £3m investment from Foresight in 2017, when it had just six coffee shops.
