Page 21 - Food&Drink Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

Di Bella gears up to go global
Australian coffee company and fast-growth success story Di Bella is preparing to push into international markets after consolidating its four brands.
AUSTRALIAN coffee company Di Bella has revealed plans to consolidate four of its national and international coffee brands into a single brand identity, a move that will help pave the way for international expansion.
The fast-growth company said it would merge Di Bella Coffee, Roasting Australia, Di Bella USA and Evolution Roasters under the one Di Bella brand umbrella, making it the second largest roast and ground coffee enterprise in Australia.
Announcing the change late last year at a media event at the Brisbane headquarters and production facility, founder Phil Di Bella and CEO Darren Dench said the consolidation would position the company to scale up for new markets.
Phil Di Bella said the consolidation was a key step ahead of duplicating the company’s local success elsewhere.
“We will take what we have here, perfect it further... and identify [new markets] around the world where we need to be. Obviously we’ve already identified the US and NZ.”
Dench said coffee cultures around the world differed to Australia and Di Bella would need to match its offering to local consumer tastes.
“To globalise, we have the credentials, the roots, so it’s just about us sharing that with other markets around the world.”
Phil Di Bella founded the craft
TO FRANCHISE OPERATOR RETAIL FOOD GROUP
coffee roasting company in 2002 in Brisbane’s Bowen Hills. The company grew quickly, being named in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Business Review Weekly Fast 100.
Four years ago, Phil Di Bella sold the business for $47 million to franchise operator Retail Food Group, and officially exited last year as managing director, although
$47 million
makes signature blends, single origin coffees, and sells equipment.
Di Bella currently produces 3480 tonnes of coffee per year, which equals 150 million cups of coffee served. Media attending the event at the Brisbane facility were treated to a professional cupping session – the tasting of brewed coffee
– and a tour of the company’s roasting facilities and its Bean Lab by Di Bella product manager Danilo de Andrade and procurement quality manager William Sharpe. ✷
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he maintains a consulting role with the company.
The coffee company will continue to offer customised blending services and micro-roasting capabilities, and will maintain its crop-to- cup philosophy, which centres on sourcing pure green beans from growers around the world that deliver beans farmed under ethical and sustainable conditions.
In addition to the Brisbane, facility, the company has roasting houses in Sydney, New Zealand and the US where it
SMART BUSINESS
DI BELLA SOLD THE BUSINESS FOR
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