Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world, and behind every cup lies a vast industry comprised of diverse companies dedicated to its production, marketing, and distribution. From large international corporations to small local businesses, the coffee market is diverse and dynamic.
In this article, we'll explore the top coffee trading companies, from iconic global brands to emerging regional chains, highlighting their history, global reach, and contributions to the world of coffee .
1. Nestle SA
NestlΓ© SA is the world's largest food and non-alcoholic beverage company, headquartered in Switzerland. NestlΓ© has more than 2,000 brands ranging from global icons to locally preferred consumer products and is present in 191 countries worldwide. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$310.639 billion.
2. Starbucks
Starbucks is an American company that sells coffee through coffee shops. There are over 34,317 Starbucks coffee shops worldwide as of 2022. As of September 2022, Starbucks operates 34,317 retail stores. Of the U.S.-based Starbucks stores, over 8,900 are company-operated. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$106.338 billion.
3. Keurig Dr Pepper
Keurig Dr Pepper is a producer of coffee and other beverages headquartered in Texas, USA. The company has over 25,000 employees in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Keurig Dr Pepper has annual revenues of over $11 billion and nearly 27,000 employees.
It is the largest food and beverage company in the U.S. Keurig Dr Pepper is a North American beverage company and the first to combine hot and cold beverages on a mass scale. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$45.579 billion.
4. JDE PEET'S NV
JDE PEET'S NV is a coffee and tea products manufacturing company based in the Netherlands.
In 2021, JDE Peet's generated total sales of β¬7 billion and has 19,000 employees. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$13.065 billion.
5. McCafe; Owned by McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
McCafe is a coffee shop-style food and beverage chain. The company reflects a consumer trend toward espresso. It remains one of the world's largest coffee companies with more than 15,000 stores located worldwide. McCafe rose to fame shortly after its inception, generating 15% more revenue than its parent company, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) in 2003. McCafe uses coffee beans supplied by Rainforest Alliance Farms to brew and blend its coffee.
6. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (JAB Holding Company)
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, based in Frisco, Texas, USA, was founded in 1981. It is known for its pursuit of coffee excellence and responsible purchasing. Known for its innovative blends and Keurig-compatible single-serve systems, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters understands the importance of quality, innovation, and sustainability.
7. Caffe Nero
Caffe Nero is next on our list. The company has over 700 locations in the US, Ireland, Poland, Cyprus, Sweden, the UK, and more, with headquarters in London, England. The company was founded in 1997 with the original idea of ββselling Italian-style British coffee to its customers. It opened its own coffee roastery in 2009, which supplies coffee to all its cafes worldwide.
8. Gloria Jean's Coffees
Founded in 1979 in Australia, Gloria Jean's Coffees is one of the world's largest coffee companies. It was acquired by Retail Food Group Limited (RFG) in 2014 for A$163.5 million. The company has more than 1,000 stores located worldwide, with approximately 460 operating in Australia. A quality cup of coffee at Gloria Jean's begins with the purchase of hand-selected Arabica beans , which are then hand-roasted in the company's own roasting facility.
9. Folgers Annual Revenue
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA, it was founded in 1850. It has been a staple in pantries across the country. Known for its quality coffee at affordable prices, Folgers is the ultimate symbol of American coffee comfort, with its iconic red canister.
Folgers is known for its quality, affordability, and accessibility, making it a ubiquitous presence in grocery and convenience stores.
10. Dunkin' Donuts; Owned by Inspire Brands
Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1948 as Open Kettle and is operated by Dunkin Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNKN). It is one of the world's largest coffee companies with over 11,300 retail locations in 36 countries. The United States remains its largest market with 8,500 stores. The company originally started with coffee and donuts on its menu but later expanded to a range of items, including bagels, sandwiches, and salads.
11. Tim Hortons; Owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE: QSR)
This Canadian coffee company was founded in 1964 and has more than 4,949 outlets spread across 14 countries. Although the company started out solely with coffee and donuts, it has now expanded its menu to include a wide range of beverages, soups, sandwiches, and more.
12. Costa Coffee; Owned by The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO)
Costa Coffee is a British coffee company headquartered in Dunstable, England. It was founded in 1971 by two brothers, who initially wanted to sell roasted coffee to caterers and specialty Italian coffee shops. The coffee shop is located in 31 countries, with over 3,100 stores. In 2019, Costa Coffee became a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) after being sold for β¬3.9 billion.
13. Coffee Beanery
Coffee Beanery first opened in the United States in 1976 and now has more than 100 locations nationwide and 20 locations internationally. The company is recognized as an industry leader for its unique family-run approach and commitment to quality. The coffee chain is known for its flavorful coffee, tea, and smoothies, and offers high-quality coffee beans roasted to the right temperature. This Michigan-based coffee company has cafes operating in the United States, Europe, and Asia, making it one of the largest coffee companies in the world.
14. Dutch Bros. Coffee
Dutch Bros. Coffee is one of the largest drive-thru coffee chains, located primarily in the United States. The company was founded in 1992 and has over 421 locations nationwide. The coffee chain serves a variety of coffees , teas, energy drinks, hot chocolate, and more. Dutch Bros. Coffee is expanding widely in the West, especially in California, Arizona, and Washington.
15. Peet's Coffee
Peet's Coffee was founded in 1966, making it one of the oldest coffee companies in the world. For the first time in the United States, the company introduced its Arabica coffee in blends and offers freshly roasted beans, brewed coffee, and espresso to its customers. The coffee chain has more than 240 locations and is sold in approximately 14,000 stores across the United States.
16. Lavazza
Lavazza is a family-owned Italian coffee product manufacturer. It is one of the world's leading coffee companies with offices and retail outlets in over 140 countries. Its manufacturing system is divided into six manufacturing plants located in Italy, France, India, and Brazil. The company was founded in 1895 and initially operated out of a small grocery store.
17. Luckin Coffee
Luckin Coffee operates a coffee shop chain based in China. Luckin Coffee is a Chinese coffee company and coffee shop chain. It operates 5,671 kiosks. The company operates shops, stores, and kiosks offering coffee, tea, and food.
Luckin Coffee filed for bankruptcy in February 2021 and was later acquired by Centurium Capital in January 2022. The market capitalization as of July 30, 2023, was US$8.001 billion.
18. PT Mayora Indah TBK
PT Mayora Indah TBK is a food and beverage company headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. They produce biscuits, beverages, sweets, wafers and chocolate, instant foods, coffee, and cereals. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$3.497 billion.
19. Strauss Group
Strauss Group is a food and beverage company that produces coffee, snacks, dairy products, salads, and ice cream. Its headquarters are in Israel.
As of 2019, the Group had 14,000 employees worldwide and is active in more than 20 countries. Market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$2.359 billion.
20. Tata Consumer Products
Tata Consumer Products produces tea, coffee, soft drinks, mineral water products, and food. Its headquarters are in Kolkata, India. The company has annual revenue of US$14.057 billion. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$12.585 billion.
21. Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation
Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation has diversified its interests into tea, coffee, other plantation products, biscuits and dairy products, electrical and household automotive parts, weighing products, horticulture and landscaping services, and healthcare products (i.e., dental, orthopedic, and ophthalmic). Its headquarters are in India. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$1.329 billion.
22. CCL Products (India)
CCL Products (India) promotes coffee brands in India. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India. Continental Coffee Pvt. Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of CCL Products (India) Limited. CCL Products (India) Limited is a public limited company founded in 1994 with the vision of creating only the finest and richest coffee in the world. The market capitalization as of January 5, 2024, was US$1.01 billion.
23. BRC Inc.
BRC Inc. is a veteran-owned and operated coffee and media company. The company, through its subsidiaries, serves coffee, content, and products to active military personnel, veterans, first responders, and others in the United States. It offers more than 20 varieties of roasted whole bean and ground coffee, in addition to its ready-to-drink (RTD), single-serve, and instant coffee.
24. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is an American coffee chain founded in 1963 and owned by Jollibee Foods Corporation. It is one of the world's largest coffee companies with 1,200 stores located in Malaysia, Singapore, Arizona, and California. The coffee served in its stores is made with the top 1% of Arabica beans from the world's best growing regions in East Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. The company also has a roasting facility in Camarillo, California.
25. Caffe Ritazza, Owned by SSP Group
Caffe Ritazza is a British multinational coffee chain with operations in over 21 countries, making it one of the largest coffee companies in the world. The company was primarily established to serve the travel market, with outlets located in airports, railway stations, and other locations. It is famous for its four blends: Sorrento, Naples, Capri, and Florence.
26. Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee was founded in 1992 in Edina, Minnesota. The coffee company is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the world, with more than 600 locations worldwide. The brand specializes in offering its customers lightly roasted coffees and fruity flavors.
Caribou Coffee is currently owned by JAB Holding Company, one of the largest German companies.
27. Maxwell House (Kraft Heinz) Annual Revenue:
Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, USA, Maxwell House was founded in 1892. Named after one of its first loyal customers, the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Maxwell House is one of the leading coffee brands in the United States. Delivering affordable, quality coffee to American homes for over a century, Maxwell House's signature house blend has become a morning ritual for countless coffee enthusiasts. The brand reflects continuity and consistency, providing a beloved familiar taste for over 130 years.
28. Tully's Coffee; Owned by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ: KDP)
Tully's Coffee is an American specialty coffee brand founded in 1992. The company's primary focus was to serve artisanal coffee in its local Seattle retail coffee shops. Along with specialty coffee, Tully's by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ: KDP) also offers baked goods, pastries, and coffee-related supplies. It is one of the largest coffee companies in the world, with franchises and grocery stores in the United States and Asia.
29. Panera Bread
Panera Bread shares a similar strategy to Tim Hortons in that it focuses on food products rather than coffee. Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri.
Although coffee sales represent a large percentage of the chain's revenue, most of its marketing materials feature items such as bread, soup, and pastries. Panera Bread is exclusively present in the United States and Canada, with 2,158 locations open in both countries.
30. Melitta Group
Melitta is a German company that sells coffee, paper coffee filters, and coffee makers. It is part of the Melitta Group, which has branches in other countries. The company is headquartered in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia.
It is named after Melitta Bentz (1873-1950), who founded the company after inventing the drip coffee filter.
The coffee world is a vibrant and complex universe, where commercial companies play a crucial role in the supply chain and the consumer experience.
Throughout this analysis of the top 30 coffee trading companies, we've observed the diversity of players in this market, from large multinational corporations to local and family-owned businesses. Each of these companies contributes uniquely to the global coffee landscape, whether through innovation, product quality, or their commitment to sustainability.