Turnover: 60 million EUR (2022)

Country: France

French coffee roaster founded in 1851

130 employees

Bought by FNB Private Equity in 2023

News

Legal wants to grow in the shadow of the coffee giants 24/11/2023

  • The three coffee giants Nestlé, JDE and Lavazza account for 70% of the market.
  • Private labels hold 20% of the coffee market.
  • Cafés Legal ranks 7th in the coffee market, with sales of 60 million euros
  • Sales volume growth for Cafe Legal was 4.5% in 2002.
  • The number of Cafe Legal references has been reduced from 70 to 30 in two years.
  • The bean-to-cup segment has been growing by 30% to 40% a year for the past five years.
  • Around 20% of households are equipped with a bean-to-cup machine.
  • Cafés Legal generates 18% of its sales volume in the bean-to-cup segment.
  • The Cafés Legal plant roasts around 10,000 tonnes of coffee each year, a production that is set to increase by 40%.
  • Private labels account for 34% of Cafés Legal's sales, up 14% from 2019.
  • The supermarket coffee market is worth approximately 3.5 billion euros a year.
  • The coffee market has seen a slight drop in volume of 2.8%, with a price increase of 10%.
  • 72% of French people drink more than one cup of coffee a day.

Legal aims to accelerate growth in coffee beans 30/06/2023

  • Acquisition of Cafés Legal by Hermione People & Brands (HPB): March 2022
  • Cafés Legal sales in 2022: €60 million
  • Number of Cafés Legal employees: 130 (including 105 in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime)
  • FNB Private Equity becomes 100% shareholder in Cafés Legal
  • Market share of Cafés Legal in France: 2.3% by volume (excluding private labels)
  • Coffee market performance (excluding soluble) in 2022: 1.5% volume decline, 6.5% value growth
  • Performance of Legal coffees in 2022: 4.5% volume growth, 8.3% value growth
  • Coffee beans' share of the coffee market: 12% by volume
  • Development of premium brands Café des chefs and Grand Arabica.

Cafés Legal acquired by Hermione People & Brands. 16/03/2022

  • Cafés Legal is the first French independent coffee brand with 100% French production facilities.
  • Multi-channel development while retaining its SME family spirit.
  • This is a strategic milestone for Hermione People & Brands, with its first acquisition in the fast-growing food market for coffee.

Studies mentioning this company

The coffee market - France

Other companies mentioned:

  • JDE Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JAB Holding)
  • Méo Fichaux
  • Malongo, Cie Mediterranéenne des Cafés
  • Lavazza Groupe
  • Café Richard Groupe
  • Folliet
  • Ecotone Groupe (Alter Eco, Bjorg, Bonneterre)
  • Café Legal
  • Etienne Coffee & Shop
  • Tails.com (Nestlé Purina)
  • Maison Lagrange
  • Cafés Albert
  • Coffea
  • Cafés Sati
  • Ricardo- Cafés Richard Groupe
  • Grain de Sail
  • Cafés Reck
  • Cafés Bibal
  • Merling Professionnel (Groupe Merlin)
  • Café michel - Terra Etica