French small appliance consortium Goupe SEB (Société d'Emboutissage de Bourgogne) has announced its acquisition of Wilbur Curtis, an American manufacturer of professional coffee equipment. “Following the acquisition of WMF in 2016, Groupe SEB confirms its determination to pursue expansion in the professional coffee industry, which offers great development opportunities worldwide,” Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise, Chairman and CEO of Groupe SEB, says. “As a specialist in filter coffee machines in the United States, Wilbur Curtis represents for the Group, [which] is already present on this market with Schaerer and WMF fully-automatic espresso machines, a very valuable strategic complement to its product offering and customer portfolio. As a result, Groupe SEB becomes one of the leaders in the professional coffee business in the US.” Founded in 1941, Wilbur Curtis manufactures and markets equipment for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, mainly filter coffee and cappuccino machines. Goupe SEB says sustained investment and a continuous commitment to innovation have enabled Wilbur Curtis to offer many of the US market’s best-in-class product offerings. Wilbur Curtis’ sales have been increasing steadily, amounting to more than US$90 million, primarily in the US. Major customers include coffee roasters, specialty coffee retailers, convenience stores, fast-food chains, hotels and restaurants. Its Californian production facility employs 300 people. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances and is expected to be finalised in February 2019.
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