It’s business as usual for the new industry giant in the coffee and tea business in New Zealand – the acquisition of the Brew Group by Jacobs Douwe Egberts ANZ. The Brew Group, better known as the Bell Tea and Coffee Company, was recently renamed after it was purchased from Foodstuffs by Pencarrow Private Equity and senior staff in 2013.
Bell Tea is an iconic brand originally based in Dunedin but part of the Foodstuffs portfolio for many years, while the JDE business with its popular Moccona brand is an international success. No forward plans have been announced for the highly complementary businesses, but the enlarged operation will have an enviable range and be the largest retail coffee and tea supplier in New Zealand. The JDE New Zealand operation is currently headed by Country Manager Brian Tomlinson and the Brew Group by Mark Hamilton. The deal is still subject to approval by the NZ Overseas Investment Office.
