CONCORD – S&D Coffee, Inc. has accepted an offer made by the Cott Corporation to be acquired. Following the completion of the proposed transaction, S&D will be a subsidiary of Cott, still operating under the S&D Coffee & Tea name.
Ron Hinson, almost 38 years with the company, will remain President and CEO of S&D, and the management team will assume the same scope and responsibilities.
The sale was announced through a press release distributed Thursday morning.
S&D will continue to innovate and deliver the finest quality coffee, tea and liquid extracts with unparalleled service, according the release. This new chapter in the storied, 89-year company history will undoubtedly be very exciting as Cott, a global, multi-beverage leader, will enable further development and acceleration of S&D’s successful business model.
S&D was first created by J. Roy Davis, Sr. and Lawrence Switzer to provide fresh roasted coffee to local and regional grocery stores back in 1927. Starting in 1965, after his father’s death, J. Roy Davis, Jr. shifted the company toward independent restaurants that were dotting the landscape to capitalize on this growing demand for quality coffee and iced tea away from home. Over the years through the skillful efforts, hard work and sacrifice of many, S&D grew from a small, family-owned business to a formidable private enterprise – distinguished as the largest coffee and tea manufacturer and supplier to restaurants and convenience stores in America.
Hinson commented, “The Davis Family, who founded S&D, deserves our gratitude for all they have done for our company, community and industry. Generations of people have benefitted from their vision, leadership and generosity.”
No changes in Concord
S&D’s presence in the Concord community will remain unchanged where it houses state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated employee base. The company anticipates making more investments in infrastructure and the workforce as business growth demands.
Cott Corporation, a Canadian company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is one of the world’s largest producers of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners and distributors and one of the leading providers in the direct-to-consumer beverage services industry.
Cott has global businesses in the office coffee services, direct to home and office water delivery, and retail segments. Their broad product portfolio includes coffee, brewed tea, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, shelf-stable juice, clear, still and sparkling flavored waters, energy and sports drinks, ready-to-drink teas as well as micro-ground coffee, hot chocolate and cereals. Cott has significant filling, packaging, delivery and service capabilities. Please read more below in “About Cott.”
Prior to the S&D acquisition, Cott employs more than 12,500 people, has operations in 21 countries around the world, and is a company of over $3.3 billion in revenue, publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (COT) as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange (BCB.TO).
Hinson further said, “We could not be more pleased by what the future holds for our stakeholders, including employees and customers, due to this new strategic combination. The synergies S&D has with Cott, whether technology, supply chain, product, distribution channels or markets, are abundantly clear.”
Jerry Fowden, Chief Executive Officer of Cott, is equally excited about the tremendous value represented by S&D. “The acquisition of S&D enables us to become a leading player in the coffee and tea categories due to their excellence as a manufacturer and their prominence as an elite supplier in the restaurant and convenience retail segments. With S&D now part of the Cott family, we can further leverage cost efficiencies and growth opportunities across all the Cott companies.”
Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC and 7 Mile Advisors acted as joint financial advisors to S&D in connection with the acquisition by Cott.
About Cott Corporation
With the acquisitions of DS Services of America, Inc. and Eden Springs, Cott has combined leading providers in the direct-to-consumer beverage services industry with its traditional business, one of the world’s largest producers of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners and distributors.
Cott now has the largest volume-based national presence in the North American and European home and office delivery industry for bottled water and one of the five largest national market share positions in the U.S. and Europe office coffee services and filtration services industries. Cott reaches over 2.3 million customers through routes located across North America and Europe supported by national sales and distribution facilities, and fleet.
Cott’s broad portfolio allows it to offer, on a direct-to-consumer basis, a variety of bottled water, coffee, brewed tea, water dispensers, coffee and tea brewers and filtration equipment.
Cott has operations in the USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Israel. Cott believes it has the broadest distribution network in the direct-to-consumer beverage services industry in North America and Europe, which enables it to efficiently service residences and small and medium size businesses, as well as national corporations, universities and government agencies. To learn more, please visit www.cott.com.
About S&D Coffee & Tea
S&D Coffee & Tea is the largest coffee and tea manufacturer and supplier to restaurants and convenience stores in America. S&D is also a leading producer of liquid extracts. In continuous operation since 1927, the company serves over 100,000 customers through national distribution and direct store delivery. For more information about S&D Coffee & Tea, go to www.sdcoffeetea.com.
