About me

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer

CEO International Coffee Consulting

I Love What i Do

With over 25 years of experience in the coffee industry - primarily at the world’s largest coffee company, Nestlé - I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.

My career spans diverse roles, including market strategy, brand building, innovation, P&L management, and sustainability, giving me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this dynamic industry.

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer on the largest coffee farm of the USA

A coffee cup on a plantation in Indonesia

lifelong passion and a calling

For me, coffee is more than a profession;
it’s a lifelong passion and a calling.

This passion has inspired me to establish International Coffee Consulting, a company dedicated to empowering businesses in the coffee sector to thrive.

I offer strategic guidance in areas such as:

Whether you're navigating market expansion, seeking innovative solutions, provides business education or looking for or driving sustainable initiatives, I’m here to help you unlock new opportunities and achieve success in this ever-evolving industry. There is more potential hiding inside your coffee business.

Let’s work together to shape the future of your coffee business.

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What makes
International Coffee Consulting unique?

Deep understanding of your market

Navigate the complexities of the global coffee industry with expert insights.

Extensive Market Expertise: With a profound understanding of the coffee markets in Germany, Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and beyond, I provide region-specific strategies that drive success.
Local Insights for Global Impact: My expertise bridges cultural and economic nuances, helping you make informed decisions and capture opportunities in diverse regions.
Tailored Solutions: Each recommendation is customized to fit your business goals and the unique dynamics of your target market.

Providing tailored solutions

Tailored strategies for every step of the coffee value chain.

From Bean to Cup Expertise: Leverage deep knowledge of the entire coffee value chain - from sourcing raw beans to delivering the perfect cup.
Customized Approaches: I craft individual solutions designed to meet the specific challenges and opportunities of your business.
Holistic Perspective: Whether it’s optimizing sourcing, streamlining production, or innovating customer experiences, my comprehensive understanding ensures success.

Focus on healthy Coffee Business

Create a thriving business built on sustainable practices and profitability.

Financial Health: Optimize profitability with strategies that balance growth, cost efficiency, and market demands.
Ethical Operations: Integrate ethical sourcing, fair labor practices, and responsible production into your business model.
Consumer Trust: Build customer loyalty by offering products and practices that emphasize health, quality, and sustainability.
Long-Term Resilience: Develop a robust foundation to withstand market fluctuations and sustain business success.

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer as speaker at the Coffee Congress in Frankfurt am Main

Exterior view of the coffee museum in Dubai

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer on the Plan Nescafé plantation in Colombia

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer in the port city of Cartagena in Colombia loading coffee sacks

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer at the Starbucks launch event in Germany

Some examples of my career

Acceleration of a business model

In terms of acceleration of a business model I was in charge of the launch for Nescafé Dolce Gusto system (the second capsules business after Nespresso) first in Germany as a Pioneer market on behalf of the Nestlé Groupe.

First introduced the system as a pioneer in the German market, later responsible throughout entire Europe with 44 countries. As the last major coffee manufacturer to enter the market, Nestlé became market leader 8 years later.

Market-specific innovations including license agreements e.g. with Dallmayr in Germany
Specific route to market per country
Lean set up HQ in Vevey (Switzerland) and the markets
Resources created (people, budget)
Motivational leadership style

Result: fastest-growing billion-euro brand in Nestlé’s history.

Turn around management

I was responsible for Coffee NORDICS as well as green coffee purchasing for ZOEGAS in Sweden with a sales responsibility of around € 200 Million. We as a team did successfully turn around NORDIC business including roasted coffee business ZOEGAS.

ZOEGAS roasted coffee in SWEDEN

Entire value chain optimized
New purchase set up
Kept logistics lean and flexible
Factory Helsingborg LEAN Value Stream introduced
New market segments conquered like medium roast
Plus 250,000 new Swedish households won
Built up and expanded distribution in Iceland

Result: Profit in % has become higher than Nestlé Europe.

New launch of a brand

In terms of new launch of a brand, I had the honor to introduce with the teams Starbucks in the retail in Germany, Austria and Switzerland during my last role at Nestlé in 2019 and have gained significant market share in all markets.

Enter new segments in retail with Starbucks such as Nespresso compatible capsules, Roast & Ground and Whole Beans
Winner of the Innovation Cup 2022 award with STARBUCKS® by NESPRESSO® range in Germany
The winner ranges or SKUs have proven to be relevant innovations, with an outstanding launch implementation.
Great example for leadership in across functions and geographies

Result: building up significant coffee business by entering new segments