Lavazza exits coffee shop business, sells Barista brand

 Italian coffee brand Lavazza on Tuesday announced its exit from the coffee shop business in India by selling its Barista brand to Carnation Hospitality.

The company, however, will continue to supply coffee to Barista through a long-term supply agreement.

Lavazza in a statement said it has decided to lay greater focus on its core business, which is coffee.

Commenting on the announcement, Lavazza CEO Antonio Baravalle said: “The decision to move out of Barista has been taken accordingly with the global business guidelines of the group to no longer manage directly the coffee shop business.”

Talking about the Indian market, Baravalle said: “India continues to remain an extremely important market to Lavazza’s international operations and it is strategic to the brand's overall growth initiatives across the world.”