MILAN – 200 Degrees, a British coffee shop chain based in Nottingham – with 21 shops in cities including Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Cardiff, Derby and Liverpool – has been fully acquired by The Nero Group, the parent company of the well-known coffee chain Caffè Nero. 200 Degrees, which also has its own roastery in Meadow Lane, Nottingham, will continue to operate as an independent brand alongside The Nero Group’s other four brands, which include Caffè Nero, Coffee #1, Harris+Hoole and Aroma, with a total of 790 sites across the UK and approximately 1,100 stores across 10 countries.
The Nero Group aims to expand the 200 Degrees brand as part of its growth strategy in the U.K.
Founded in 2012 in Nottingham by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees began its national expansion in 2016 with the opening of its first outlet in Birmingham. Leicester and Leeds followed the same year.
In February 2017, the company signed a funding deal with HSBC and then a further £3m deal with private equity firm Foresight. Between 2018 and 2019, expansion continued into Manchester, Lincoln and Liverpool.
The chain’s plans suffered a sudden setback in 2020-2021 due to Covid. But they resumed in full swing with the end of the health emergency.
The Nero Group Founder and Group CEO Gerry Ford commented: “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 which matches perfectly the ethos of The 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 The Nero Group.”
200 Degrees’ Managing Director Stephen Fern commented: “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.”
