Gerry Ford: Coffee, Capital and Long-Term Growth
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1,000+ sites. 11 countries. Five brands. Nearly three decades of founder-led growth. And a coffee market changing faster than ever.
The market is fragmenting. A new generation of specialist and lifestyle-led coffee and beverage brands is attracting customers, capital and attention. Costa has faced its own well-documented challenges. And consumers increasingly expect more than simply a reliable cup of coffee.
Which raises some big questions.
- Relevance - how does a 1,000+ site incumbent remain distinctive as cooler, younger challengers emerge?
- Portfolio - is the future about one ubiquitous brand or a collection of differentiated concepts?
- Capital - how do you finance acquisition and international expansion while maintaining control?
- Supply chain & margin - coffee commodity prices have been exceptionally volatile. How do you manage sourcing, pricing and margin?
- Competition - what can established operators learn from the speed and cultural relevance of the new beverage challengers?
- International growth - where does Nero see the biggest opportunity from here?
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Longevity - how do you keep a brand (and yourself!) fresh after almost 30 years without continually chasing the next trend?
Those are exactly the questions Peter Martin will put to Caffè Nero Founder and Group CEO Gerry Ford in our Head-to-Head interview at Peach 2020 Leaders Summit on 18 November.
A candid, open and direct conversation about scale, capital, competition, hospitality and growth - and what it takes to stay ahead when the market around you keeps changing.
The Peach 20/20 Leaders Summit takes place in London on 18 November 2026. Attendance is by invitation and is strictly limited to 300 board-level hospitality operators. Request your invitation today.
Huge thanks to our Headline Partners: Access Hospitality, Diageo, Fourth, NIQ, Nutritics, Sona and Tevalis; Premium Partners: Discover Network, Enotria, Harri, HeyGuest and TiPJAR; Event Partners: Bird & Bird, Brakes, Coca Cola, Northern Restaurant & Bar, The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show.
