High-stakes moves in machine markets and retail control
De’Longhi increased its stake in the La Marzocco and Eversys division by more than a quarter to 88%. The professional coffee machine category generates approximately 25% of group profit. The La Marzocco and Eversys tie-up, which formed in December 2023 in a $1.4bn deal, generated €489.1m ($584.5m) in revenue last year. DFI Retail Group, owned by conglomerate Jardine Matheson, assumed full control of Starbucks operations in seven East Asian markets after joint venture partner Maxim’s Group exited the business. DFI expects the licensed Starbucks business, which earned $750m in 2025 across Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau, and Laos, to reach a total of $900m by the end of 2028. This shift provides DFI total control over its 1,100 stores in the region.
Westrock Coffee and Kofola submitted bids for Italy’s Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, while three investment firms also entered the running for the Segafredo owner. Massimo Zanetti confirmed the group was exploring sale options in July 2026. Italian media reports place the deal for the group in the region of €1.2bn ($1.37bn).
| Entity | Deal Value | Bidder/Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group | €1.2bn ($1.37bn) | Westrock Coffee, Kofola, and 3 firms |
| Christine’s Bakery | RM 3.2m ($780,000) | Magma Group Berhad |
| Caffe Artigiano cafe business | CA$7.7m ($5.4m) | Purebread Brands |
Diversification in Canada and Malaysia
Canada’s Recipe Unlimited Corporation acquired the Greek chains Everest and Flocafe Espresso Room, providing the Ontario-based operator its first foothold in Europe. Everest operates over 100 outlets, primarily in transit hubs and motorway service stations, while Flocafe manages 31 stores in Greece and 15 in international markets. In Malaysia, Magma Group Berhad secured a cut-price deal for the struggling Christine’s Bakery, an "opportunistic investment" involving 10 boutique outlets in Klang Valley. Magma added in a Bursa Malaysia filing that the RM 3.2m ($780,000) acquisition of the specialty coffee and pastry chain, which serves dishes like Wagyu Beef Pizza and Soft Shell Crab Tobiko, remains subject to regulatory approval. Purebread Brands also expanded its footprint by acquiring the cafe business of Caffe Artigiano for CA$7.7m ($5.4m). This acquisition will more than triple the seven-strong network of the Vancouver-based bakery group. Knightsbridge Capital Group will retain control of the roastery, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer packaged coffee operations for the specialty chain, which currently has 20 outlets in British Columbia and 7 sites in development.
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