Lavazza sells coffee shops in India

In an effort to realign and restructure its businesses globally, Lavazza has decided to lay greater focus on its coffee business.

Lavazza, which bought the café brand Barista in 2007, has sold the coffee shop chain with over 190 cafés to Carnation Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Rollatainers.

Coffee shops will keep providing Lavazza Coffee qwing to a long-term supply agreement between Fresh & Honest Café Ltd. (FHCL) and Barista.

Antonio Baravalle, CEO of Lavazza, said: “The decision to move out of Barista has been taken accordingly with the global business guidelines of the Group to no longer manage directly the coffee shop business. Instead, they will continue to provide Lavazza Coffee to Barista coffee chain thanks to a long-term supply agreement, in connection with a license agreement of the Lavazza trademark. Changes in the market required us to relook at our commercial penetration methods and as a result, Lavazza has decided to concentrate on coffee in the region."

"In fact, India continues to remain an extremely important market to Lavazza’s international operations and it is strategic to the brand’s overall growth initiatives across the world. Furthermore, we will continue to develop our presence in the country through the AFH business and through the investments in the Sri City plant, our first and only production facility outside of Italy," he said.