Bewley's has sold its UK business operations to long-term partner and customer Cafédirect for an undisclosed sum.
Cafédirect started out as a pioneering social enterprise 32 years ago to improve the lives of smallholder farmers and to champion better ways of doing business.
A leading brand in the UK at-home coffee market, Cafédirect are taking over the Bewley's business to grow their out-of-home footprint.
Today's deal includes a long-term agreement for Bewley's to exclusively manufacture and supply all Cafédirect's retail product.
"We are particularly happy to be handing our UK business over to Cafédirect. I have personally worked with the team there for many years and know they share our values," said Bewley's Tea & Coffee Managing Director Jason Doyle.
"Like Bewley’s, they are renowned for their ethical work practices, working with producers to provide a better future for growers and their families," he said.
He said today's deal leaves the Irish team to really focus on changing the face of Bewley’s in Ireland, where it is constantly innovating and investing in the team, the brand and the company's manufacturing facility.
"As a long-term partner of Bewley’s we are incredibly honoured to take over their UK business and also to future-proof our coffee supply with a long-term agreement with Bewley’s in Ireland," said Cafédirect CEO John Steel.
"We have always enjoyed a very close relationship with the Bewley’s team and business and a key reason for this is that, amongst other things, we share a lot of common values across both of our businesses," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Doyle said today that Bewley’s are seeing strong performance in the Irish market in 2023.
