International Coffee Consulting in media

As some coffee businesses struggle, some experts believe we’ll see increased market consolidation over the next few years.

“There are many consolidations deals every year, but the majority are on a small scale – it’s not always the big guys like Nestlé, JDE Peet’s, and Lavazza signing billion-dollar agreements,” says international coffee consultant and former Nestlé Executive Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer.

Although Mueller-Pfeiffer forecasts more consolidation in the coffee industries near future, he doesn’t believe coffee will follow the path of some sectors in which only five or six giants control the market.

The announced merger of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) and JDE Peet’s has, in one stroke, redrawn the global coffee map.

JDE Peet’s stock jumped over 17% on merger news, while KDP fell more than 7%. The $16bn revenue alliance creates the next biggest coffee player after Nestlé. Both firms were already racing to scale before merging.

Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer (International Coffee Consulting) shares insights on the new mega-merger and what it means for the industry.

However, it’s not just about the figures. It is important to note that Nestlé still operates at a different level of system strength, especially with Nespresso, Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, and the Starbucks alliance,” said Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer of International Coffee Consulting.
“However, in terms of global reach and system capabilities, it will increasingly become a two-horse race between Nestlé and Global Coffee Co,” says Müller-Pfeiffer.

The global coffee industry is facing a quiet but dangerous crisis: young people are abandoning the profession, leaving behind aging farmers and a shrinking pipeline of generational knowledge.

“If we don’t act now, in 20 years we’ll face serious coffee supply issues,” warns Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer, founder of International Coffee Consulting. But there is hope - innovative programs in Brazil and long-term planning, like in Vietnam, show how purposeful investment can reinvigorate coffee farming's future.

Thought leaders gathered in Melbourne to discuss key industry issues at the 2025 GCR Leaders Symposium. From expansion at scale to supply chain chal­len­ges, here are the highlights from this year’s series of panel dis­cus­sions. With more than 25 years’ experience in the industry, including Managing Director roles at Nestlé, international coffee consultant Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer delivered this year’s keynote speech on the megatrends shaping the future of coffee. He explored the global coffee phenomenon and the growth of the industry over the past 30 years, highlighted the importance of cold coffee and ready-to-drink products, and discussed the trend for market consolidation, among many other topics.

Will the continued pressure of high green-bean prices result in further con­so­li­da­tion coffee industry, or will Australia and New Zealand’s independent spirit persevere?

There is a discussion about market consolidation with Andrew Low and Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer and what it means for the industry.

A cup of the ‘dark stuff’ is not just enjoyable, for many, it’s absolutely essential.

Global coffee markets such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East hold huge opportunities for growth: touring these markets reveals some of the hottest future coffee trends. 

Dear Coffee Lover: exciting news – my first podcast is live! ☕️ After 27+ years in the coffee industry and countless conver­sa­tions across the coffee globe, together with Caryn Antonini from the USA we’ve summarized the biggest global coffee megatrends into one powerful episode.

Whether you're a coffee CEO, brand strategist, or just passio­nate about where the industry is going, this episode is for you. Tune in to "Coffee Megatrends: What you need to know in 2025 and beyond". 👉 Enjoy the show.

In 2025, RTD coffee will be of exceptionally high quality, which means consumers will perceive far less of a quality sacrifice. Tomorrow’s coffee businesses should carefully consider the purchasing behaviours and preferences of the younger generations to get ahead. Hardtank interviewed Gerd Müller-Pfeiffer to learn more about the future of RTD coffee.