2 minute read - 21st September 2022
Finlays to open coffee production facility in Hull
Finlays Europe has confirmed that its new multi-million pound facility specialising in producing cold brew coffee will open in the north of England this autumn. The coffee extraction plant will produce cold brew coffee in ready-to-drink cans, as well as bag-in-box formats, for branded and own-label suppliers to the UK and European grocery and hospitality sectors.
The new site is being built next to the firm’s existing tea decaffeination facility in Hull. It will produce its cold brew coffee from beans freshly roasted at its roastery in nearby Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
Finlays has confirmed that its new multi-million pound cold brew coffee production facility in Hull will be open this autumn / Picture: Getty/iStock
Ian Bryson, managing director at Finlays Europe, said: “Whilst cold brew is already extremely popular in the US and Japan, the market is very much in its infancy in the UK and Europe. But looking at the forecast growth for this sector, we see a huge opportunity for brands to lead in this space closer to home – particularly in retail. We hope our new facility will help these brands achieve their goals as they take on the exciting cold brew market.”
Ian Bryson added: “There’s currently some confusion among UK and European consumers as to what cold brew actually is, and how it differentiates from iced coffee. Cold brew is more premium, tastes of genuine roast and ground coffee, is perceived to be less acidic and bitter than iced coffee. Its complex flavour profile and natural sweetness also means it offers a rich sensory experience without the need for additional ingredients. Cold brew is also a natural source of caffeine making it a great alternative to traditionally sugary energy drinks, most of which contain synthetic caffeine.
“Our plan for Europe is to emulate the successful model we have in the US to deliver the same premium quality, pure cold brew that has taken the North American market by storm. Combining our rich coffee heritage with our pioneering extraction expertise, we are able to work closely with UK and European brand owners, retailers and food service outlets to provide bespoke solutions.”
Finlays Europe says the cold brew market is expected to reach a category value of $4bn globally in 2025 – which is 10% of the overall ready-to-drink/iced coffee category. The European cold brew market is also on the verge of major growth, expected to grow by $96m by 2025. It also accounts for 22% of ready-to-drink coffee launches in Europe.