La Colombe Coffee Roasters Acquisition, Valuation, Funding & Investors

La Colombe Coffee Roasters was acquired by Chobani for $900M in December 2023, a 2.7x multiple on $333M of revenue.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters acquisition price

$900M

Acquired by Chobani · Dec 2023

La Colombe Coffee Roasters revenue at acquisition

$333M

Last twelve months · Dec 2023

La Colombe Coffee Roasters revenue multiple at acquisition

2.7x

EV/Revenue · Dec 2023

Cumulative funding La Colombe Coffee Roasters raised

$329M

across 2 funding rounds

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Overview

About La Colombe Coffee Roasters

La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a Philadelphia-headquartered company roasting arabica beans for medium and dark roasts sold as whole beans, ground coffee, and ready-to-drink draft lattes. It supplies cafes, offices, and grocery chains with single-origin varieties from Ethiopia and Colombia. The brand operates cafes in major U.S. cities and distributes nationally.


Founded

1994

HQ

United StatesLos Angeles, CA

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2B & B2C

Revenue model

Product sales

Revenue

$300M (Jul 2023)

Valuation

$900M (Jul 2023)

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Acquisition

La Colombe Coffee Roasters was acquired by Chobani for $900M on 15 December 2023.

The acquisition price implies a 2.7x revenue multiple on $333M of revenue.

Before the acquisition La Colombe Coffee Roasters had raised $329M across 2 funding rounds.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters, a Philadelphia-based coffee company founded by Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti, roasts and sells premium coffee, operates 32 cafes across markets including Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, and Washington, D.C., and produces ready-to-drink (RTD) products like canned draft lattes and cold brews, which have grown over 3x in the last five years and hold more than 1% of the $5 billion U.S. RTD coffee market within 18 months of launch. Chobani, a New York-based next-generation food and beverage company originally known for Greek yogurt, has expanded into oatmilk, cold-brew coffee, probiotic beverages, and coffee creamers, achieving double-digit volume-led sales growth and margin expansion amid industry challenges. The acquisition, announced December 15, 2023, builds on Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya's prior $60 million majority investment in 2015 and recent collaborations, positioning Chobani to diversify further by leveraging La Colombe's RTD craftmanship to reach new consumers alongside yogurt pairings and compete against Costa Coffee and Starbucks RTD lines. Chobani acquired La Colombe for $900 million in cash, financed via a $550 million term loan, cash on hand, and exchange of Keurig Dr Pepper's 33% minority stake—obtained earlier in 2023 for $300 million with a distribution agreement that remains in place—for Chobani equity. La Colombe will operate as an independent brand under its existing management, benefiting from Chobani's retail execution, marketing, and cold chain capabilities for multi-serve growth, plus KDP's distribution for single-serve expansion into convenience retail and underdeveloped channels. The deal, an insider transaction given Ulukaya's history, supports Chobani's ambition to become a modern food company disrupting with nutritious options, potentially reviving paused IPO plans while accelerating La Colombe's scale against established competitors.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters acquisition details
AcquirerDateTypePriceEV/Revenue
15 Dec 2023PE buyout$900M2.7x

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Valuation

La Colombe Coffee Roasters is currently valued at $900M, based on its strategic investment round in July 2023.

The $300M round was led by Keurig Dr Pepper.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters' valuation has grown 13x from $67M at its undisclosed-stage round in September 2014 to $900M in July 2023, across 2 priced rounds.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters valuation by funding round

Revenue multiple
La Colombe Coffee Roasters valuation by funding round
DateStageValuationRevenue Multiple
Jul 2023Strategic investment$900M3.0x
Sep 2014Undisclosed stage$67M-

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Revenue

La Colombe Coffee Roasters' latest recorded revenue is $300M, as of its strategic investment round in July 2023. At a $900M valuation, that implies a 3.0x revenue multiple.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters revenue by funding round

La Colombe Coffee Roasters revenue and valuation multiple by funding round
DateRevenue *ValuationRevenue MultipleStage
Jul 2023$300M$900M3.0xStrategic investment

* Revenue (or ARR) figures are the values recorded alongside each funding round. Typically run-rate revenue at the time of the deal, or a reported LTM (last 12 months) revenue.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Funding History

La Colombe Coffee Roasters has raised a total of $329M across 2 funding rounds.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters' first fundraising round was a $29M undisclosed-stage round in September 2014. The most recent completed round was a $300M strategic investment round in July 2023.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters funding rounds

La Colombe Coffee Roasters funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedValuationDeal Summary
Jul 2023Strategic investmentKeurig Dr Pepper (lead)$300M$900MLa Colombe Coffee Roasters, founded in 1994 and based in Philadelphia, is a high-growth super premium coffee company offering products across retail, branded cafes, foodservice, and direct-to-consumer channels. It is vertically integrated, controlling bean sourcing, roasting, and production of ready-to-drink (RTD) coffees like canned draft lattes. On July 20, 2023, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) invested $300 million for a 33% stake, valuing the company at approximately $900 million, with proceeds used to accelerate growth and pay off debt. This made KDP the second-largest investor behind majority owner and Chairman Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani. The deal included a long-term partnership where KDP would distribute La Colombe's shelf-stable RTD coffees through its direct store network starting late 2023 and manufacture/sell La Colombe-branded K-Cup pods in the US and Canada from 2024. KDP stated the investment represented a 3.0x multiple of La Colombe's estimated 2024 consolidated net sales, implying ~$300 million in projected revenue. The partnership aimed to expand La Colombe's availability in mainstream retail and high-growth RTD/super premium coffee segments. La Colombe had pursued a $1 billion valuation since 2018 but achieved ~$900 million here. In December 2023, KDP sold its stake to Chobani in exchange for equity, maintaining the $900 million valuation. La Colombe's RTD products had notable traction, capturing 1% of US grocery RTD coffee sales in 2017 shortly after launch.
Sep 2014Undisclosed stageGoode Partners (lead)$29M$67MLa Colombe Coffee Roasters, founded in 1994 by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti, is a Philadelphia-based coffee roaster and café operator known for direct-trade, earth-conscious blends and single-origin coffees, operating 8 cafés in Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. at the time of the investment. The company secured approximately $28.5 million from Goode Partners in a strategic investment announced around September 1, 2014 (deal signed August 31, 2014), valuing the company at $66.5 million post-money, with funds earmarked for expanding to 100 cafés coast-to-coast over five years, increasing roasting capacity, building out the corporate team, and entering new markets like Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Goode Partners, a New York-based private equity firm focused on consumer and retail brands, led the round as the sole investor mentioned, providing operational expertise, strategic planning, real estate selection for café rollouts, and support for grocery channel entry, starting with Target in Q1 2015. La Colombe leveraged the partnership to accelerate growth after two decades of organic expansion, including recent café openings and product launches like the $359 'The Dragon' coffee device. Goode exited its controlling interest in August 2015 to Hamdi Ulukaya (Chobani founder) after just one year, achieving a 2.0x multiple of capital and approximately 188% IRR, with the $66.5 million valuation referenced in context of that transaction. Subsequent developments included a 2023 $300 million investment from Keurig Dr Pepper for 33% stake at $1 billion valuation (3.0x 2024 estimated net sales) and full acquisition by Chobani for $900 million in December 2023.

Who has invested in La Colombe Coffee Roasters?

2 investors have backed La Colombe Coffee Roasters across its funding rounds, including Keurig Dr Pepper and Goode Partners.

Lead investors include Keurig Dr Pepper and Goode Partners.


La Colombe Coffee Roasters Investors

Investors in La Colombe Coffee Roasters by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check

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La Colombe Coffee Roasters Competitors

La Colombe Coffee Roasters competitors include listed companies like NewPrinces and Magalu, and private ones like Hutouju, Snack Is Busy, Believer Meats and Familia.

Public and private companies comparable to La Colombe Coffee Roasters
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
HutoujuChinaShanghaiPrivate--$550M-
Snack Is BusyChinaChangshaPrivate--$1.5B-
Believer MeatsIsraelJerusalemPrivate--$900M-
FamiliaRussiaMoscowPrivate--$900M-
NewPrincesItalyItalyPublicly listed$3.4B$660M$901M0.0x
MagaluBrazilBrazilPublicly listed$7.5B$402M$896M0.3x

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Public Comps

La Colombe Coffee Roasters is no longer listed, but its public comps include NewPrinces, Magalu, AG Barr, Simply Good Foods, JINS Holdings, Leche Gloria, Nick Scali, Douglas, Pet Valu and Savencia Fromage & Dairy.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
NewPrinces$3.4B$660M0.1x0.0x0.4x0.6x
Magalu$7.5B$402M0.3x0.3x5.5x3.9x
AG Barr$587M$98M1.5x1.4x8.8x7.7x
Simply Good Foods$1.5B$185M0.8x0.9x6.5x5.4x
JINS Holdings$625M$95M1.4x1.2x9.2x7.9x
Leche Gloria$1.4B$131M0.7x-6.9x-
Nick Scali$368M$129M2.8x2.8x8.1x8.2x
Douglas$5.3B$849M0.6x0.6x3.8x4.1x

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Common questions about La Colombe Coffee Roasters

When was La Colombe Coffee Roasters founded?La Colombe Coffee Roasters was founded in 1994.
Where is La Colombe Coffee Roasters headquartered?La Colombe Coffee Roasters is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Is La Colombe Coffee Roasters publicly listed?No, La Colombe Coffee Roasters was acquired by Chobani in December 2023.
Who acquired La Colombe Coffee Roasters?La Colombe Coffee Roasters was acquired by Chobani in December 2023.
How much was La Colombe Coffee Roasters acquired for?La Colombe Coffee Roasters was acquired for $900M in December 2023, a 2.7x revenue multiple.
What is La Colombe Coffee Roasters' valuation?La Colombe Coffee Roasters was last valued at $900M in its strategic investment round in July 2023.
How much funding has La Colombe Coffee Roasters raised?La Colombe Coffee Roasters has raised $329M across 2 funding rounds.
What was La Colombe Coffee Roasters' last funding round?La Colombe Coffee Roasters' last funding round was a $300M strategic investment round in July 2023, led by Keurig Dr Pepper.
Who are La Colombe Coffee Roasters' investors?La Colombe Coffee Roasters' investors include Goode Partners and Keurig Dr Pepper.
What is La Colombe Coffee Roasters' revenue?La Colombe Coffee Roasters' latest recorded revenue is $300M (July 2023).
What is La Colombe Coffee Roasters' revenue multiple?La Colombe Coffee Roasters' latest valuation implies a 3.0x revenue multiple ($900M valuation on $300M of revenue).
Which companies are comparable to La Colombe Coffee Roasters?Companies comparable to La Colombe Coffee Roasters include Hutouju, Snack Is Busy, Believer Meats, Familia, NewPrinces and Magalu.

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