Acquisition closed
Coca-Cola acquires Costa Coffee
Coca-Cola bought Costa Coffee from Whitbread, its first move into a large hot drinks platform and its entry into physical coffee retail.
Who owns Costa Coffee?
Costa Coffee is owned by Coca-Cola (the United States, NYSE: KO), which acquired the brand on 3 January 2019 from Whitbread.[1][2] Before Coca-Cola, Costa Coffee was owned by Whitbread from 1995 to 2019.[2]
Key facts
- Current owner
- The Coca-Cola Company verified
- Owned since
- · deal details
- Acquisition price
- $4.9 billion (enterprise value)
- Previous owner
- Whitbread (1995–2019)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Atlanta, Georgia
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, London
- Founded
- 1971 by Sergio Costa, Bruno Costa
- Category
- Restaurants & foodservice › Quick-service restaurants › Coffee & café chains
- Parent ticker
- NYSE: KO
- Last verified
- · 2 sources
About Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee was founded in London in 1971 by brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, who began by roasting and supplying coffee to caterers before opening their own shops. It grew into the largest coffee chain in the United Kingdom. Coca-Cola bought it from Whitbread in January 2019 for about $4.9 billion.
Ownership timeline of Costa Coffee
- 1995 – 2019 Whitbread — sold 3 January 2019 [2] verified
- 2019 – present Coca-Cola — acquired 3 January 2019 [1][2] verified
Where Costa Coffee sits in Coca-Cola
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Deals involving Costa Coffee
Latest news about Costa Coffee
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Costa Coffee?
The parent company of Costa Coffee is Coca-Cola, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Costa Coffee British or American?
Costa Coffee originated in the United Kingdom in 1971, but it is owned today by Coca-Cola, which is headquartered in the United States. So Costa Coffee is a British-origin brand under American ownership.
When did Coca-Cola buy Costa Coffee?
Coca-Cola completed its acquisition of Costa Coffee on 3 January 2019, after announcing the deal on 31 August 2018.
Who owned Costa Coffee before Coca-Cola?
Before Coca-Cola, Costa Coffee was owned by Whitbread from 1995 until 2019.
Is Costa Coffee still owned by Coca-Cola?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Costa Coffee is still owned by Coca-Cola. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (2) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] The Coca-Cola Company Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2026-02-20 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 20 February 2026; retrieved 6 September 2026.
- [2] The Coca-Cola Company Annual Report on Form 10-K — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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