UTRECHT, The Netherlands -- Sara Lee Corp. has acquired Expresso.Coffee, an espresso coffee retailer that supplies the out-of-home small business, vending and bakery segments in Brazil. Terms of the deal were not undisclosed.
Espresso.Coffee is licensed to sell coffee under Sara Lee’s Pilao brand in about 1,000 venues in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
"This acquisition substantially expands the branding and consumer connection platform for our Pilão brand," said Michiel Herkemij, chief executive of Sara Lee International Beverages.
Sara Lee is in the midst of dividing into two publicly traded companies.
The company focused on the international coffee and tea market will be named D.E Master Blenders 1753. Based in the Netherlands, its operations will be spread across Europe, Brazil, Australia and Thailand, and will include such popular tea and coffee brands as Douwe Egberts, Senseo, L'OR EspressO, Pilão and Pickwick. | SEE STORY
Sara Lee’s North American meats business, with brands including Ball Park and Jimmy Dean, has yet to be named. The spinoff is expected to be completed by June this year.
