From local excellence to global player
Caffè Borbone, founded in 1997, is today among the main Italian operators in coffee roasting and single-serve coffee. Since joining the Italmobiliare Group in May 2018, the company has aligned its growth with the Group’s strategic priorities, combining industrial development, brand strengthening and a clear ESG roadmap. “At the time of the investment, Caffè Borbone was still a predominantly ‘southern’ brand, with most of its revenues concentrated in central and southern Italy” explains Marco Schiavon, CEO of Caffè Borbone.
In 2017, the company recorded around 95 million euro in revenues, 150 employees and 9,000 tons of coffee processed. Seven years later, it has become the leading single-serve coffee player in Italy, with revenues exceeding 330 million euro in 2024, EBITDA of 68 million, 380 employees and over 30,000 tons of coffee processed every year. This growth stems from a strategic plan of strong discontinuity, supported by around 70 million euro in investments, which has overturned the traditional model of the sector: while most roasters generate about 80% of their revenues from beans and ground coffee and only 20% from single-serve, Caffè Borbone has done the opposite, with over 80% of its business coming from capsules and pods.
“What truly makes Borbone interesting – continues Schiavon – is the combination of several factors: the productivity and power of our industrial system, with over 60 production lines running continuously day and night, and an extremely efficient logistical model, with minimal stocks and a continuous flow from production to market. It is this balance between solidity and agility that represents one of our most important assets.”
In addition to major industrial investments, the company has invested in communication and marketing with the aim of achieving a new and more solid positioning. From a strategy focused almost exclusively on TV, it has moved to a multichannel strategy, with targeted investments in digital and branded content. This evolution reflects the brand’s ability to transform market fragmentation into a strength, leveraging its capillarity through an omnichannel platform that integrates retail, e-commerce, wholesale and growing foreign markets, which today account for around 11% of revenues. In parallel with the transformation of its business model, Caffè Borbone has strengthened its commitment to sustainability. “Our ESG trajectory is not just a direction, but a concrete action – emphasizes Marco Schiavon, CEO of Caffè Borbone –. We act every day, putting sustainability at the top of our agenda, with the shared commitment of all the people in the organization.”
An approach that translates into concrete results: since 2022, Caffè Borbone has used 100% electricity from renewable sources and 75% of its packaging from renewable materials, with the aim of minimizing the environmental footprint of single-serve coffee. Since around 80% of CO₂ emissions derive from coffee cultivation, the company has launched projects with Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) in Vietnam and India to improve agricultural practices and reduce emissions at source. Moreover, more than half of the coffee used is now traceable at the origin, with the goal of reaching 80% by 2028. Alongside environmental initiatives, Caffè Borbone also promotes socially valuable initiatives along the supply chain. The five-year “Mwanyi” project in Uganda – developed with OFI – supports women and young people in coffee communities, promoting skills, entrepreneurship and sustainable agricultural practices.
Looking to the future, Caffè Borbone intends to continue building its success on clear pillars: “our goal is to consolidate leadership in southern Italy and accelerate growth in the north – concludes Schiavon. – We also want to strengthen our international presence with dedicated lines, local teams and marketing investments, with a focus on North America, the Iberian Peninsula and Germany.”