Lavazza Chairman Marco Lavazza predicts a competitive 2019

In the last full year, the global coffee market was worth 7.9 million tonnes, growing by 2.6 per cent versus 2016. Two-thirds of the volume was still in the retail channel, but the most promising evolution came from food service, portioned systems, and online commerce. The coffee world is facing a rapid evolution, with a concentration process that sees more competition. Today, having a strong brand, with global reach and a clear focus, is very important to assure future growth. Lavazza has the three of them, and is preparing to improve its position in the new market arena. We are a global, pure, premium coffee company, and we want to play a leading role in the coffee scenario of the future. To do so, we leverage on our coffee experience and know-how: we are present worldwide in all market categories and all channels, with a global relevance and a premium positioning. Established in 1895 in Turin, the Italian roaster has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Among the world’s most important roasters, the group currently operates in more than 90 countries through subsidiaries and distributors, exporting 63 per cent of its production. Lavazza employs a total of about 3000 people with a turnover of more than €2.0 billion in 2017. As the company continues on a strategic globalisation path, the Lavazza Group has acquired local jewels in key markets such as France’s Carte Noire (2016), Denmark’s Merrild (2015), North America’s Kicking Horse Coffee (2017), and amplified its distribution reach in 2018 with the acquisition of France’s Espresso Service Proximité, Italy’s Nims, and Blue Pod Coffee Co. in Australia.