Caffè Nero is a privately held, founder‑led company majority owned by its founder and chief executive, Gerry Ford, through a group of holding companies often referred to as The Nero Group.

Current ownership

  • The operating company Caffè Nero Ltd is majority owned via intermediary holding companies, including UK‑based Nero Group Holdings Ltd and a Luxembourg entity called Rome Intermediate Holdings Sàrl.
  • These entities are controlled by founder and CEO Gerry Ford, making Caffè Nero effectively founder‑controlled rather than part of a larger public coffee conglomerate.

The Nero Group structure

  • The Nero Group is described as a family‑owned operator of more than 1,100 Caffè Nero stores across about ten countries, positioning it as one of Europe’s largest independent coffeehouse groups.
  • Alongside Caffè Nero, the group owns brands such as Coffee #1, Harris + Hoole, Aroma, 200 Degrees, and FCB Coffee, which it has acquired to strengthen its premium and specialty coffee portfolio.

Public vs private status

  • Caffè Nero was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2001 but was taken private again in 2007 via a management buy‑out backed by investors, after the public market was seen as undervaluing the business.
  • Since then, ownership has remained in private hands, with Gerry Ford retaining control while occasionally facing but resisting hostile takeover interest, such as an approach from EG Group during the COVID‑19 period.

Information gathered from public data and business press coverage available online.