Coffeesmiths looks to offload four sites

Speciality operator Coffeesmiths Collective is looking to dispose of four sites alongside its aggressive acquisition strategy, MCA understands.

Cedar Dean Leisure is believed to be marketing the Bea’s of Bloomsbury on Devonshire Street, Department of Coffee cafes on Wardour Street and Russell Square, and Daily Goods on Camberwell Church Street.

The disposals are thought to be part of a routine review of the group’s growing estate, which has seen it buy scores of brands in the last year, with further acquisitions expected.

Coffeesmiths, which appointed former Novus CEO Toby Smith to lead its UK business earlier this year, operates original flagship brand Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, alongside Small Batch Coffee, Bea’s of Bloomsburg, Baker & Spice, TimberYard, and Filmore & Union.

It has also acquired Roasted Rituals, Brew & Bake, Brew Coffee Co, La Bottega Milanese, Spring Expresso, CoffeeWorks Project, Tradewind Expresso and Crazy Fox.

Coffeesmiths rolls out and acquires specialty coffee shops, with a view to preserving them as “local institutions”, bringing “light touch economies of scale” to enhance the customer experience and increase shareholder value.

The group said it didn’t comment on specific properties but added: “As with all multi-site national operators we constantly review our property portfolio - this involves both acquisitions and disposals.”