The Nero Group buys Nottingham Based ‘200 Degrees’

The Nero Group buys Nottingham Based ‘200 Degrees’

- 200 Degrees becomes the 5th Brand in the Nero Group

- 200 Degrees will continue to operate as a standalone brand

- The purchase of 200 Degrees reinforces the strong growth strategy of The Nero Group Premium coffee house brand Caffè Nero announces it has completed the purchase of Nottingham-based coffee brand ‘200 Degrees’.

Founded in 2012 in Nottingham by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees has grown into a successful 21-store Midlands based coffee brand. In addition to stores, the business has its own roastery and operates an online e-commerce channel selling directly to customers at home, including a subscription offering. 200 Degrees also operates a wholesale arm, serving over 500 wholesale customers.

200 Degrees joins The Nero Group and will sit alongside the Group’s other brands: Caffè Nero, Coffee#1, Harris+Hoole and Aroma, making it the first brand in the Group. The Nero Group aims to expand the 200 Degrees brand as part of its growth strategy in the U.K. The Nero Group has acquired 200 Degrees in line with its ongoing strategy to develop premium, high-quality, speciality coffee brands across the world. The Group now has over 790 stores in the UK, and approximately 1100 stores across 10 countries.

The Nero Group Founder and Group CEO Gerry Ford commented: “I’m delighted to welcome 200 Degrees into the Caffè Nero family. It is a fantastic brand with an emphasis on great coffee and service combined with a local community-based feel which matches perfectly the ethos of The Nero Group. 200 Degrees has a solid, loyal customer base and has developed a strong regional position. Our intention is to support 200 Degrees to continue its growth journey and allow the brand to operate separately alongside the other brands in The Nero Group.”

200 Degrees’ Managing Director Stephen Fern commented, “We are thrilled that the strong market position and growth potential of 200 Degrees has been recognised within the sector, and we are excited to see where our brand can go now that we have become part of The Nero Group family. The Nero Group is a great partner for us with its commitment to premium coffee and its strong values as a family-owned company. 200 Degrees itself is a premium brand with a commitment to delivering great experiences. The four pillars of our business - our shops, wholesale, e-commerce platform and barista schools – have been bringing better coffee to millions of people across the UK for the last 12 years, delivering excellent customer service and a commitment to breaking down the barriers within speciality coffee. With this new partnership, we look forward to introducing even more people to our beans, our people and our passion for creating experiences to remember.”

-Ends-

**Notes to Editors**

- AlixPartners acted as exclusive financial advisor to 200° Coffee

- The Nero Group is the largest independent coffee house group in Europe.

- The Nero Group remains a family-owned and operated business.

- The Nero Group operates over 1,100 stores across 10 countries

- The Group has more than 790 stores across the UK, with 625 of those Caffè Nero Stores.

- The Nero Group currently employs over 7,000 people in the UK

- Since 2016, through its charitable foundation, Caffè Nero has donated over $850,000 to UK and international humanitarian causes, as well as supporting and funding coffee farmers in the communities which produce Caffè Nero’s green coffee beans

- Caffè Nero was founded by Gerry Ford in 1997 and he continues to be the Group CEO.