Premium coffee maker illycaffè is ready to sell a stake in the Italian company to a strategic partner to help it boost its retail network, the family-owned group said.
The coffee maker has picked Goldman Sachs to find a major US-based retailer as a partner to expand Illy's US-branded cafes to 200, more than 10 times its current footprint.
In July, Chairman Andrea Illy told Reuters the group could consider selling a minority stake for the first time since its foundation in 1933, should the right operating partner come along.
Network Expansion
He said the Italian group wanted to expand its network especially in the United States where bigger rivals like Starbucks Corp and JAB have jumped on a consumer trend away from regular coffee bars toward high-end cafes.
The premium brand of illycaffè, which produces a blend made of nine varieties of arabica beans, gives it an edge over rivals, the analysts say.
The roaster - which serves up 7 million cups of its brew in restaurants and cafes each day - is currently 100% owned by the Illy family.
Last year the group posted sales of €483 million ($528 million), up 5% at constant exchange rates. Adjusted core profit rose 10.7% to €75.3 million.
It signed a licensing deal with conglomerate JAB last year to produce and sell illy-branded coffee pods that work in Nestlé SA's Nespresso machines.
