Slow acquires African Coffee Roasters to strengthen sustainable coffee production 

KENYA – Coop and the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) have agreed to sell African Coffee Roasters (ACR) to Slow, a Danish coffee producer and global leader in sustainable coffee.  

The acquisition, effective March 12, 2025, is a major step toward a fairer and more climate-friendly coffee industry. The deal is currently pending approval from Kenyan authorities. 

The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

Slow aims to transform the global coffee industry by integrating regenerative coffee farming while redefining traditional business models and value chains. The purchase of ACR aligns with this mission, marking an important milestone in Slow’s strategy. 

“We have great respect for the vision that Coop and IFU have pursued with ACR. Their efforts have paved the way for us to take the next step—combining ACR’s strong foundation with Slow’s regenerative approach to reshape global coffee production from seed to cup,” said Sebastian Nielsen, CEO of Slow. 

The acquisition also represents Slow’s expansion beyond Southeast Asia, where it has focused on sustainable coffee cultivation. With ACR’s operations in Kenya, Slow strengthens its presence in another major coffee-producing region. 

“Slow has proven that we can grow and deliver nature-positive, carbon-negative coffee that restores forests, enhances biodiversity, and improves farmers’ livelihoods. With the acquisition of ACR, we take another step toward a fully integrated coffee value chain.  

ACR is the perfect match—a world-class roastery that helps retain more value creation and quality local jobs in the Global South, where coffee is grown. Moreover, ACR fits seamlessly into Slow’s global growth strategy, as it is already one of Europe’s largest importers of roasted coffee and serves customers across Asia, the Middle East, and the United States,” Nielsen added. 

ACR will continue its operations in Kenya as part of Slow, gaining access to extensive opportunities for green innovation and more sustainable coffee solutions. 

“Becoming part of Slow marks an exciting new chapter for ACR. Slow shares our deep commitment to responsible coffee production. By combining our expertise and business models, we can take sustainable coffee to the next level and create even greater value where coffee is grown. I look forward to this journey and the opportunities ahead for both ACR and Slow,” said Jacob Elsborg, CEO of African Coffee Roasters. 

Slow has been expanding its operations beyond coffee. In 2023, the company entered the cocoa industry by acquiring an Indonesian cocoa company as part of its broader growth plan, which also included capital investment from an Indonesian partner. 

In Denmark, Slow has gained recognition through corporate agreements with companies such as Coor, supplying coffee to firms including Velux, the Police, and Topsøe. 

ACR, which has operated for a decade, roasts coffee for Danish brands such as Cirkel Kaffe, Änglamark, and Irma.  

Despite initial financial struggles under Coop, ACR achieved its first profit in 2023. Coop’s financial reports indicate high expectations for 2024, projecting even stronger performance when results are published in April. 

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