Department for Coffee and Social Affairs (DoCaSA) has taken over Small Batch Coffee, the Brighton-based Luke Johnson backed group, MCA understands.
Key DoCaSA directors have joined the board of Small Batch, including Philip Maritz, Matthew Gill and chief executive Ashley Lopez, while Small Batch founder Alan Tomlins has departed, alongside Luke Johnson.
Johnson’s Risk Capital Partners has backed the seven-strong speciality coffee group since 2015.
The acquisition gives DoCaSA another key foothold in the regional specialty coffee market, and follows a series of other strategic swoops.
In recent months the US-listed group has acquired Baker & Spice, the Patisserie Holdings brand, Bea’s of Bloomsbury, Tap Coffee, a mobile coffee brand Café 2 U, and two Bristol independents.
During Johnson’s stewardship of Small Batch, it relocated to a larger roasting facility and increased its wholesale business, while its coffee shop estate remained much the same.
Precis
Department for Coffee and Social Affairs (DoCaSA) has taken over Small Batch Coffee, the Brighton-based Luke Johnson backed group, MCA understands. Key DoCaSA directors have joined the board of Small Batch, including Philip Maritz, Matthew Gill and chief executive Ashley Lopez, while Small Batch founder Alan Tomlins has departed, alongside Luke Johnson. Johnson’s Risk Capital Partners has backed the seven-strong speciality coffee group since 2015. The acquisition gives DoCaSA another key foothold in the regional specialty coffee market, and follows a series of other strategic swoops. In recent months the US-listed group has acquired Baker & Spice, the Patisserie Holdings brand, Bea’s of Bloomsbury, Tap Coffee, a mobile coffee brand Café 2 U, and two Bristol independents. During Johnson’s stewardship of Small Batch, it relocated to a larger roasting facility and increased its wholesale business, while its coffee shop estate remained much the same.
