Editing Caffè Nero

{{Short description|European style coffee house brand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Caffè Nero Group Ltd.
| image = Wandsworth Bridge Road Caffè Nero.jpg
| image_caption = Wandsworth Bridge Road Caffè Nero
| image_size = 279px
| logo = Caffè Nero Logo.svg
| type = [[Private company limited by shares]]
| location = [[London]], [[England]]
| num_locations = {{Increase}} 1,017 (2019)
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Gerry Ford (businessman)|Gerry Ford]] ([[Chairman]], and [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]])}}
| num_employees = {{Increase}} 5,000
| industry = [[Coffeehouse|Coffee shop]]s
| products = Espresso based coffees <br />Frappé <br />Tea<br />Savoury and Sweet goods
| subsid = [[Harris + Hoole]]<br />[[Coffee 1|Coffee #1]]<br />Aroma Coffee<br/ >Coffee 200°
| revenue = {{Increase}} £227.9 million [[Pound Sterling|GBP]]
| homepage = {{url|https://www.caffenero.com}}
}}
'''Caffè Nero''' is a [[coffeehouse]] company headquartered in [[London]], England, established in 1997 by [[Gerry Ford (businessman)|Gerry Ford]]. Caffè Nero runs over 1,000 coffee houses in eleven countries: the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Cyprus, Croatia, Turkey, the UAE, Oman and the United States. In 2009, Caffè Nero bought and opened its own coffee roastery in Battersea, south London, which supplies the coffee to all its coffee houses worldwide.

Caffè Nero Ltd is majority owned through a chain of intermediary companies, including UK-based Nero Group Holdings Ltd and [[Luxembourg]]-based Rome Intermediate Holdings Sarl, by Gerry Ford.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} The company successfully dismissed a [[hostile takeover]] attempt by [[EG Group]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the UK|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=walsh/>

==History==
In 1997, Gerry Ford led a small group of investors in the purchase from Ian Semp of five London coffee outlets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/caffe-nero-takeover-deal-completes-returning-the-business-to-private-hands|title=Caffè Nero takeover deal completes returning the b...|date=19 January 2007|website=The Caterer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10746554/Caffe-Nero-founder-Gerry-Ford-has-chutzpah-you-need-it-if-want-to-take-a-European-coffee-chain-to-America.html|title=Caffe Nero founder Gerry Ford has chutzpah - you need it if want to take a European coffee chain to America|first=Andrew|last=Cave|date=5 April 2014|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/caff-nero-s-cup-runneth-over-yet-again-zq7rlwnss|url-access=subscription|title=Caffè Nero records like-for-like sales growth|first=Dominic|last=Walsh|date=26 February 2018|newspaper=[[The Times]]}}</ref> At the same time the signature coffee house blend – Classico – was introduced, and has gone on to receive awards for its quality. The Classico blend is still served in every store today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mca-insight.com/cafes-and-coffee-shops/caffe-nero-enters-the-retail-market/552362.article|title=Caffe Nero enters the retail market|website=MCA Insight}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ivoryresearch.com/writers/sally-james-ivory-research-writer/ |title=Situation Analysis of the Caffè Nero Group Ltd |website=www.ivoryresearch.com}}</ref>
[[File:Kamienica Kestnerów w Warszawie 05 (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|left|Café in [[Warsaw Old Town|Warsaw]], Poland, where it is branded as 'green Caffè Nero']]
In March 2001, Caffè Nero joined the [[London Stock Exchange]] under the symbol CFN. In early 2007, the company was the subject of a management buy-out by the newly formed Rome Bidco Ltd and taken private.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-caffe-nero-takeover-idUKWLA618520061207|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013191046/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-caffe-nero-takeover-idUKWLA618520061207|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2019|title=Caffe Nero agrees to management buyout|newspaper=Reuters|date=7 December 2006|via=uk.reuters.com}}</ref> The company expanded to Turkey in 2007, the UAE in 2009, Poland in 2012, Cyprus in 2013, Ireland and the United States in 2014, Croatia in 2017, Oman in 2018 and Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xpressrecruitment.com/articles/caffe-nero-to-open-80-new-international-sites-in-2019-2894.htm|title=Caffe Nero to open 80 new international sites in 2019|publisher=Xpress Recruitment|date=20 December 2018}}</ref>

In 2013, Caffè Nero's coffee was rated best-tasting among five major UK brands by experts at the independent consumer magazine ''[[Which?]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/07/which-coffee-shop-chain-serves-the-tastiest-coffee-325644/ |title=Which coffee shop chain serves the tastiest coffee? |website=Which.co.uk |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=9 May 2014 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101309/https://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/07/which-coffee-shop-chain-serves-the-tastiest-coffee-325644/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate at Caffè Nero.jpg|thumb|Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate at Caffè Nero, Crawley.]]
In June 2016, the Caffè Nero Group completed the purchase of the [[Harris + Hoole]] business from Tesco, with 43 sites,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2016/06/caffe-nero-acquires-harris-hoole-brand-tesco/|title=Caffè Nero acquires Harris + Hoole brand from Tesco|date=23 June 2016}}</ref> and in January 2019 the Group expanded further by completing the purchase of the majority shareholding of the 100-strong coffee chain Coffee#1 located in Wales, South West England and the Midlands from [[Brains Brewery|SA Brains]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mca-insight.com/analysis/a-taste-of-things-to-come/576139.article|url-access=subscription|title=A taste of things to come?|first=Georgi|last=Gyton|date=2019-01-31|website=MCA Insight}}</ref>  The deal gave Caffe Nero a 67% majority stake in the business; in February 2022, Caffe Nero purchased the remaining 33%.<ref>{{cite news| last=Witts | first=Sophie | title=Caffè Nero buys majority stake in Coffee#1 | website=Big Hospitality| date=1 February 2019 | url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2019/01/30/Caffe-Nero-buys-majority-stake-in-Coffee-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Gilbert | first=Helen | title=Caffè Nero owner buys remaining stake in Coffee#1 | website=British Baker | date=14 February 2022 | url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/finance/caffe-nero-owner-buys-remaining-stake-in-coffee1/664464.article}}</ref>

In 2019 they partnered with the beverage company [[Fever-Tree]] to sell two variations of the beverage [[espresso and tonic]] across its outlets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woolfson |first=Daniel |title=Fever-Tree partners with Caffè Nero for 'Espresso & Tonic' drinks |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/new-product-development/fever-tree-partners-with-caffe-nero-for-espresso-and-tonic-drinks/592482.article |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Grocer |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, like many businesses in the hospitality sector, Caffè Nero suffered from poor trading conditions because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Due to the second lockdown in November 2020, the company proposed entering a [[company voluntary arrangement]] (CVA) with its creditors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/caffe-nero-lenders-and-landlords-brace-for-launch-of-cva-plan-12125237|title = Caffe Nero lenders and landlords brace for launch of CVA plan|date=6 November 2020 |work=Sky News}}</ref> Ford hoped that successful renegotiation of rent agreements with landlords, and a reduction in overall costs, would enable the company to rebuild its business when the pandemic ended;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54929684|title = Covid: Caffè Nero seeks help after pandemic 'decimates' trading|work = BBC News|date = 13 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reactnews.com/article/caffe-nero-chief-we-never-meant-pay-no-rent-to-landlords/|title=Caffè Nero chief: We never meant 'pay no rent to landlords'|work=reactnews.com}}</ref> more than 90% of creditors voted in favour in November 2020.<ref name="standard.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/caffe-nero-cva-approved-b131158.html|title=Landlords approve Caffe Nero CVA after company rejects takeover offer|work=standard.co.uk|date=1 December 2020}}</ref> The CVA was approved the day after Caffè Nero confirmed it had rejected an unsolicited takeover approach from the brothers [[Mohsin and Zuber Issa]], who are behind the [[EG Group]], stating that they had "clear intention" to disrupt the CVA "as a precursor to opportunistically acquiring the company at a later date."<ref name="standard.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/caffe-nero-cva-5m-survival-fund|title=Caff Nero CVA includes 5m 'survival' fund to|date=3 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityam.com/landlords-approve-caffe-nero-rescue-deal/|title = Landlords approve Caffe Nero rescue deal|work=cityam.com|date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

In September 2021, the high court dismissed the challenge against the CVA, brought by a landlord with the backing of the Issa brothers, with Mr Justice Green ruling that the company had "acted in good faith, in accordance with their professional duties and reached a perfectly reasonable decision that it was not in the best interests of the creditors to postpone the CVA process".<ref name=walsh>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/judge-rebuffs-asda-owners-mohsin-and-zuber-issa-in-their-bid-to-buy-caffe-nero-3rlqgwbkk|url-access=subscription|title=Judge Rebuffs ASDA Owners Mohsin And Zuber Issa In Their Bid To Buy Caffè Nero|last1=Walsh|first1=Dominic|date=29 September 2021|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/caffe-nero-cva-eg-group-court-case/|title=High Court dismisses legal challenge to Caffe Nero restructuring|date=30 September 2021|website=The Caterer}}</ref>

In January 2022, Caffè Nero completed a £330m refinancing to give it a platform for future growth and development as well as the ability to resume its new store-opening programme as the business continued its recovery from the effects of the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/issa-brothers-hopes-denied-by-caff-nero-refinancing-5f7pzgs8g|url-access=subscription|title=Issa brothers' hopes denied by Caffè Nero refinancing|last1=Walsh|first1=Dominic|date=14 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2022/01/14/Caffe-Nero-completes-330m-debt-refinancing-as-it-looks-to-grow|title=Caffè Nero completes £330m debt refinancing as it looks to grow}}</ref>

In August 2022, Caffè Nero was awarded a Princess Royal Award For Outstanding Workplace Training in recognition of the impact of its workplace leader development courses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Caffè Nero Wins Princess Royal Award For Outstanding Workplace Training |url=https://businessmondays.co.uk/caffe-nero-wins-princess-royal-award-for-outstanding-workplace-training/ |publisher=Business Mondays}}</ref>

In May 2023 it was announced that Caffè Nero would run the [[Nero Book Awards]], annual awards in four categories for books published in Britain or Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaffi |first1=Sarah |title=Caffè Nero launches major book awards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/23/caffe-nero-launches-major-book-awards |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=22 May 2023}}</ref>

In October 2024 Caffè Nero bought Nottingham based Coffee 200°<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bunn |first1=Matt |title=Caffè Nero buys 200 Degrees coffee brand |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyrknd0n94o |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=BBC |date=28 October 2024}}</ref> making 200° the fifth brand to join the group.

==Controversies==
{{criticism section|date=November 2022}}
Some of the company's stores have had planning permission controversies or enforcement. In December 2011, councillors in [[Skipton]] accused Caffè Nero of "bully-boy tactics" following the opening of a store without the required planning permission.<ref>{{cite news| last=Tate | first=Lesley | title=Retrospective application for Skipton High Street business refused|newspaper=Craven Herald | date=15 December 2011 | url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/9421173.retrospective-application-for-skipton-high-street-business-refused/}}</ref>

{{As of|2014}} Caffè Nero had not paid any [[United Kingdom corporation tax|corporation tax in the UK]] since 2007 on sales of £2 billion and had been subject to criticism,<ref name=bbc.co>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-27291283|title=Caffe Nero accused over tax affairs|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2014}}</ref>{{needs update|date=May 2023}} although the [[BBC]] reported that "there is no suggestion that Caffe Nero has done anything illegal" and that "Caffe Nero has previously rejected accusations that its complex corporate structure involving various holding companies is designed to avoid corporation tax."<ref name=bbc.co />

In May 2015, the company said that they would stop serving milk from farms in [[Gloucestershire]]'s [[Badger culling in the United Kingdom|badger cull]] areas following threats from animal-rights activists. On 29 May 2015, the company said: "Caffè Nero has instructed its partners supplying to stores which are situated around the cull zone areas to supply milk from farms outside of the zone."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Caff-Nero-bans-badger-cull-milk-animal-rights/story-26612320-detail/story.html|title=Caffè Nero bans 'badger cull' milk after animal rights threats|work=Gloucester Citizen|date=1 June 2015|access-date=1 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803065241/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Caff-Nero-bans-badger-cull-milk-animal-rights/story-26612320-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

On 7 July 2015, rats were videoed scurrying along the floor and counter in their [[Donegall Square]] West unit in [[Belfast]], despite having previously been awarded a four out of five star rating by inspectors from Belfast City Council. Having been notified of the incident, the store was closed for a full investigation and later reopened; the source of the infestation was an adjacent disused building.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33787741|title=Caffè Nero Council visit after rats filmed|work=BBC News|date=5 August 2015}}</ref> 

A 2017 undercover investigation by the BBC programme ''[[Watchdog (TV programme)|Watchdog]]'' found trace amounts of faecal bacteria in the iced water used for drinks in Caffè Nero, [[Starbucks]] and [[Costa Coffee]]. It was suggested that the ice was most likely to have been contaminated by being touched by unclean hands. The three major coffee chains said they were taking steps to deal with the matter. Tony Lewis, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, urged caution about the BBC's findings, stating: "The public should not panic about this. You can't generalise from the small sample size."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/28/faecal-bacteria-found-ice-three-major-uk-chains-caffe-nero-starbucks-costa-coffee|title=Faecal bacteria found in ice from Costa, Caffè Nero and Starbucks|first=Nicola|last=Davis|date=28 June 2017|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

In June 2018, Polish State Sanitary Inspectorate and media reported 63 adults and 10 children having been poisoned (21 of whom were hospitalised) after eating [[salmonella]]-contaminated cakes served in a number of Caffè Neros in [[Warsaw]], [[Kraków]] and [[Wrocław]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://warszawawpigulce.pl/sanepid-72-przypadki-zachowan-w-tym-10-dzieci-w-dalszym-ciagu-stwierdza-sie-nieprawidlowosci/|title=Sanepid: 73 przypadki zachorowań, w tym 10 dzieci|date=11 June 2018|website=warszawawpigulce.pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pssewawa.pl/container/GreenCaffeNero-zatrucie-4.pdf|title=Komunikat nr 4: Zatrucie pokarmowe w sieci kawiarni Green Caffe Nero|date=11 June 2018|website=pssewawa.pl}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Coffee}}
* [[List of coffeehouse chains]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Caffè Nero}}
*[https://www.caffenero.com Official website]

{{UK Food}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caffe Nero}}
[[Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies based in London]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1997]]
[[Category:Coffee brands]]