Wed 30th Jan 2019 - Caffe Nero acquires Coffee#1 Caffe Nero acquires Coffee#1: Caffe Nero Group has become the majority owner of Coffee#1, the coffee chain that has sites across Wales, Midlands and southern England. Caffe Nero Group has bought shares from Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain, which has owned Coffee#1 since 2011. Coffee#1, which opened its first coffee shop in 2001, currently has 92 shops with sales at more than £30m. The acquisition gives the Caffe Nero Group close to 70% ownership of Coffee#1, with SA Brain retaining circa 30% ownership. The Coffee#1 brand will sit alongside Caffe Nero Group’s other brands – Caffe Nero, Harris+Hoole and Aroma. The group’s intention is to leave the Coffee#1 brand intact and operate it as a standalone business. Caffe Nero Group has acquired Coffee#1 as part of its growth strategy, which sees it open a new store somewhere in the world every four days. The group now has more than 750 stores in the UK and more than 1,000 internationally across ten countries. Founder and group chief executive Gerry Ford said: “We are delighted to welcome Coffee#1 into the Caffe Nero family. It is a fantastic brand with an emphasis on great coffee and service combined with a community-based feel that matches the ethos of Caffe Nero Group perfectly. Coffee#1 will continue to operate regionally and grow alongside the Caffe Nero brand.” SA Brain chairman John Rhys added: “I am proud of what we have achieved in growing Coffee#1 to 92 stores since we acquired the business seven years ago. I would like to thank our employees and everyone involved for making it such a resounding success. The board has resolved now is the time to join with a major player in the coffee market to take it to the next stage of its development. As significant shareholders in the business, we look forward to seeing Coffee#1 continue to grow and prosper within the Caffe Nero family.”