Coffee chain Caffè Nero is expanding into the USA, with its first café due to open in Boston, Massachusetts in late-April.
In the past six years the chain has grown internationally, and operates in countries including Poland, Cyprus and Turkey, as well as the Middle East. It currently has more than 550 cafés in the UK and 82 internationally.
Gerry Ford, chairman and founder of Caffè Nero said: “For some time America has been a destination we have been interested in exploring and we feel now is the right time to slowly enter the market. I used to live in Boston and I love the place. It is such a beautiful, vibrant city, with a long tradition of being closely linked with Europe and we believe there is a good fit between the city and Caffè Nero.”
The company said it had secured a new £275m debt financing package to enable it to “spread its wings” overseas and enter the “at-home” coffee market.
Caffè Nero won a snapshot expert taste test of high street coffee chains organised by consumer watchdog Which? in July last year. It beat Costa, the M&S Café, Pret A Manger and Starbucks with its Americano.
The family-owned chain launched in 1997. In the year ended 31 May 2013, revenue was £204m in the UK and £228m worldwide.
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