United Coffee Expands in the UK
Total coffee solutions provider, United Coffee UK & Ireland, has grown its market share within the independent sector with the acquisition of Andronicas. Based inCorby, Andronicas is a premium roastery specialising in gourmet coffees for independent coffee shops, delicatessens and high-end retailers.
United Coffee UK & Ireland is part of UCC Holdings, Japan’s largest producer of coffee with a turnover of Eur2.5 billion. United Coffee UK & Ireland delivers a complete package to customers from installing coffee machines, creating bespoke coffee blends, branding, marketing and barista training. The company’s roasting facility in Kent has become a hub for customers to taste and learn about coffee, which is one of the reasons the facility now roasts more than 8,000 tonnes of coffee each year, making it Britain’s largest coffee roaster.
United Coffee UK & Ireland owns British brandLyons’ coffee, which relaunched in 2011 to the UK retail sector. UCC Holdings acquired United Coffee, one of Europe’s largest coffee roasters, in 2012 to become one of the top five biggest independent coffee companies in the world.
Elaine Higginson, managing director of United Coffee UK & Ireland, says: “Brands still dominate the market but we are continuing to see growth in the independent sector. Our successful go to market strategy enables us to take our big brand experience to the regions and work with the independents to drive growth and build consumer loyalty in their local communities. Andronicas will help us to deliver bespoke blends and niche products in small volumes.”
