Italian coffee giant Caffè Nero swoops in to buy 200 Degrees Coffee - two shops in Birmingham

The business, which has 21 sites across the Midlands and North of England, was founded in Nottingham in 2012. 

200 Degrees will become the fifth brand under Caffe Nero’s portfolio. 

Branches in Birmingham include Lower Temple Street and Colmore Row.

Gerry Ford, CEO of Caffe Nero, told The Business Desk: “I’m delighted to welcome 200 Degrees into the Caffè Nero family. 

“It is a fantastic brand with an emphasis on great coffee and service combined with a local community-based feel that matches perfectly the ethos of Caffe Nero Group.

“200 Degrees has a solid, loyal customer base and has developed a strong regional position. 

“Our intention is to support 200 Degrees to continue its growth journey and allow the brand to operate separately alongside the other brands in Caffe Nero Group.”

The brand was started by entrepreneurs Tom Vincent and Rob Darby. 

200 Degrees’ Managing Director Stephen Fern added: “We are thrilled that the strong market position and growth potential of 200 Degrees has been recognised within the sector, and we are excited to see where our brand can go now that we have become part of The Nero Group family. 

“The Nero Group is a great partner for us with its commitment to premium coffee and its strong values as a family-owned company. 

“200 Degrees itself is a premium brand with a commitment to delivering great experiences. The four pillars of our business - our shops, wholesale, e-commerce platform and barista schools – have been bringing better coffee to millions of people across the UK for the last 12 years, delivering excellent customer service and a commitment to breaking down the barriers within speciality coffee. 

“With this new partnership, we look forward to introducing even more people to our beans, our people and our passion for creating experiences to remember.”