Keurig Dr Pepper’s Multi-Billion-Dollar Move Will Make It The Global Coffee King

Keurig Dr Pepper is poised to shake up the coffee industry. In a press release, the company announced plans to acquire JDE Peet’s for $18 billion. The purchase will expand Keurig Dr Pepper’s footprint, combining one of America’s most popular coffee products maker with JDE Peet’s international lineup of coffee brands that include L’OR, Jacob’s, Senseo, and Douwe Egberts.

Keurig Dr Pepper merged 10 years ago in 2018, and has announced plans to become separate companies again following the acquisition of JDE Peet’s. The former will focus exclusively on the coffee brand “Global Coffee Co.,” and the Dr Pepper will spearhead “Beverage Co.” in North America with brands like 7UP, Snapple, Dr Pepper and others.

Last year, Keurig Dr Pepper reported that it made $15.5 billion in net sales. Once Global Coffee Co. separates from Beverage Co., that number will climb to $16 billion in combined annual net sales and will make it the world’s largest pure-play coffee company, meaning a company that exclusively sells coffee and coffee products, with access to over 100 countries. Global Coffee Co. will be either the #1 or #2 brand in 40 companies.

Here is a breakdown of the top coffee companies with corresponding annual sales:

Nestle
Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
Annual sales: $23.7bn in coffee in 2023
Focus: Heavyweights Nespresso, Nescafe and Starbucks retail in global markets

JDE Peet’s
Headquarters: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Annual sales: $8.8bn in 2024
Focus: L’OR, Peet’s, Jacobs, Senseo, Tassimo, Douwe Egberts

Keurig Dr Pepper
Headquarters: Texas, US
Annual sales: $15.5bn in coffee in 2024
Focus: Keurig coffee systems and coffee pods and Green Mountain

Lavazza
Headquarters: Turin, Italy
Annual sales: $3.9bn in 2024
Focus: European-style coffee products

J.M. Smucker
Headquarters: Ohio, US
Annual sales: $666.1m in 2024 for coffee specifically
Focus: At-home retail coffee, including Folgers and Cafe Bustelo

Starbucks
Headquarters: Seattle, US
Annual sales: $36.2bn in 2024
Focus: The world’s largest coffee shop chain

Costa Coffee (Coca-Cola)
Headquarters: High Wycombe, UK
Annual sales: $1.7bn in 2023
Focus: The world’s second-largest coffee chain

Photo: kendra k / Flickr