FDBusiness.com

DE Master Blenders 1753, the independent pure-play coffee and tea company, which was spun off from Sara Lee Corporation in June, has commenced full trading on NYSE Euronext in Amsterdam. Michel Cup, chief financial officer of DE Master Blenders 1753, comments: “DE Master Blenders 1753 offers a compelling growth story. We have the ambition to become the number two coffee and tea company in the world through value added offerings, innovation and expansion. The independent listing gives us additional flexibility in structuring transactions and provides greater visibility in the financial markets.”

The creation of a stand-alone focused company enables DE Master Blenders 1753 to more rapidly introduce new products and to react faster to changes in its markets. There is a more streamlined organisation due to the reduced number of management layers, and the company is able to optimise its capital structure more easily than as part of a larger conglomerate business. The independence offers greater strategic flexibility, including more opportunities for strategic partnerships and/or acquisitions.

DE Master Blenders 1753 offers an extensive range of high-quality, innovative products through well-known brands such as Douwe Egberts, Senseo, L’OR, Pilao, Merrild, Moccona, Pickwick and Hornimans in both retail and out of home markets. The company holds a number of leading market positions across Europe, Brazil, Australia and Thailand and its products are sold in more than 45 countries. DE Master Blenders 1753 generated sales of more than Eur2.6 billion in fiscal year 2011 and employs around 7.500 people worldwide.