Caffè Nero Coffee

Caffè Nero is a prominent European-style coffee house brand founded in London, England. The brand was originally established in 1990 by Ian Semp and later acquired in 1997 by Gerry Ford, who transformed it into the international chain recognized today. The company takes a vertically integrated approach to its quality control; it operates its own dedicated roastery in Battersea, South London. This facility is responsible for roasting the brand's signature 'Classico' blend, which is then distributed to over 1,000 coffee houses across eleven countries, including the UK, USA, Ireland, Poland, and Turkey.

Ownership of the brand remains private and is centralized under the Nero Group. Following a period as a public company on the London Stock Exchange from 2001 to 2007, Gerry Ford led a management buyout to take the company private again. As of 2026, the brand continues to be majority-owned by Ford through various holding companies such as Nero Group Holdings Ltd (UK) and Rome Intermediate Holdings Sarl (Luxembourg). The group has continued to expand its portfolio through the acquisition of other brands like Harris + Hoole, Coffee#1, and most recently 200 Degrees Coffee and FCB Coffee.