Supermarket shelves across Europe are seeing empty spots where beloved coffee brands, particularly Douwe Egberts, used to sit. The shortage is linked to rising prices, a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions and a fierce price war between coffee roasters and supermarket chains. The situation has led to frustrations among consumers as their go-to coffee brands remain out of reach.
During a fiscal presentation on February 26, 2024, JDE Peet’s, which owns Douwe Egberts, reported impressive yearly growth with a 7.9% revenue increase, bringing in €8.8 billion. Profits also rose by 49%, indicating the company’s resilience. However, this success is overshadowed by the continued shortage of coffee on supermarket shelves, which has raised concerns among shoppers.
The coffee crisis stems from multiple factors, including unusual weather patterns that have disrupted coffee production, as well as broader supply chain issues. “The prices of green coffee have risen to historic highs, averaging more than double compared to last year,” JDE Peet’s stated in their financial report. This has led to heightened tensions between the company and major supermarket chains, such as Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Colruyt, and Edeka, as they struggle to reach agreements over pricing. While some stores, like Colruyt, have managed to strike deals, many supermarkets remain in negotiations, leaving coffee aisles bare and consumers frustrated.
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