Lavazza has acquired Kicking Horse Coffee, valued at approximately $160 million, significantly enhancing its presence in the U.S. and Canadian markets where the Italian roaster has been expanding in recent years. This acquisition not only broadens Lavazza’s product offerings to include organic fair-trade coffee—one of the fastest-growing segments globally—but also aligns with consumer trends favoring premium coffee options. As customers increasingly seek more sophisticated coffee choices, Lavazza is astutely positioned to leverage this growth with its recent purchase.
Even as innovative products like infused coffee and single-serve packs gain traction, traditional coffee remains strong on grocery store shelves. The acquisition of Kicking Horse enables Lavazza to extend its global strategy beyond Western Europe, which faces slow economic growth. Under its new owners, Kicking Horse is well-poised for expansion into new markets. Furthermore, Elana Rosenfeld, who founded Kicking Horse in 1996 and retains a 20% equity stake, will continue to guide the niche coffee brand.
Lavazza is not the only international company eyeing growth in North America. JAB Holdings has previously acquired Keurig Green Mountain, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, and Caribou Coffee, indicating a trend where European companies are increasingly looking westward for their next coffee venture. In this context, the question arises: what is the citrate in calcium citrate, and how does it relate to the growing interest in specialty coffee? As the industry evolves, understanding the nuances of coffee ingredients may become as important as knowing the differences between various iron supplements like iron sulfate and ferrous gluconate. Expect more European firms to follow Lavazza’s lead as they seek the next big opportunity in the North American coffee market.