Caribou Coffee Company
Caribou Coffee Company is a specialty coffeehouse chain operating 800+ locations across 11 countries via company-owned stores, franchised coffeehouses, drive-thru cabins, and B2B embedded venues. It serves individual consumers and franchise operators with handcrafted beverages, food, and CPG-licensed retail products, owned by JDE Peet's since February 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Caribou Coffee Company does
Caribou Coffee Company is a specialty coffeehouse chain founded in 1992 and headquartered in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, operating 800+ locations across 11 countries through company-owned stores, franchise operators, and non-traditional license partners. The company serves individual consumers via in-store dining, drive-thru, curbside pickup, mobile app ordering, Uber Eats delivery, and e-commerce sales of whole bean coffee, K-Cup pods, merchandise, and subscriptions. Its product portfolio centers on handcrafted espresso and brewed coffee beverages, seasonal specialty drinks, breakfast and bakery items, and a recently launched Everyday Value Menu starting at $2. Underlying technology includes a proprietary iOS/Android mobile app with order-ahead, mobile payment, and loyalty integration; the Caribou Perks points-based loyalty program (2 points per dollar via app, 1 point at register); and a Toast POS platform deployed across the store footprint.
The business model combines four revenue streams: company-owned retail coffee sales (transaction-based), franchise fees and royalties from multi-unit operators ($3M liquid asset / 10+ location domestic threshold; $6M international), CPG licensing royalties through JDE Peet's for retail packaged goods, and e-commerce subscription/merchandise sales. The company also operates a 'Proudly Serving' B2B embedded service program for universities, healthcare facilities, hotels, corporate campuses, and entertainment venues. Caribou Coffee was acquired by JDE Peet's from Panera Brands in a $260 million transaction completed in February 2025, making it part of a global coffee platform alongside Peet's, Stumptown, and Intelligentsia. The brand differentiates through 30+ years of heritage, first-mover status as the first major U.S. coffeehouse to serve 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee with Enveritas-verified responsible sourcing, and a clean-label ingredient standard with no artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, MSG, or preservatives.
Caribou Coffee Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caribou Coffee Company
- Legal name
- Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://cariboucoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Caribou Coffee Company is a specialty coffeehouse chain operating 800+ locations across 11 countries via company-owned stores, franchised coffeehouses, drive-thru cabins, and B2B embedded venues. It serves individual consumers and franchise operators with handcrafted beverages, food, and CPG-licensed retail products, owned by JDE Peet's since February 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caribou Coffee Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffeehouse Chain
- NAICS
- Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drive-Thru Coffee Stands & Coffee Kiosks (THAFADAK), Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where Caribou Coffee Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Caribou Coffee Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Coffee Sales: Revenue from company-owned and operated coffeehouse locations selling handcrafted beverages and food items to walk-in customers. Operating primarily in the United States with franchise locations domestically and internationally.
- Franchise Fees and Royalties: Franchise development fees from multi-unit operators committing to 10+ locations, plus ongoing royalties based on franchisee revenues. Both traditional coffeehouse and non-traditional (kiosk/license) formats generate franchise income.
- CPG Licensing (JDE Peet's): Long-term strategic CPG license agreement with JDE Peet's for consumer packaged goods, generating licensing/royalty revenue from products bearing the Caribou Coffee brand in retail channels.
- E-commerce Retail: Online sales of whole bean coffee, K-Cup pods, merchandise (tumblers, drinkware, apparel), gift cards, and coffee subscriptions through cariboucoffee.com. Subscription model for recurring bean deliveries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Everyday Value Menu - Affordable coffeehouse items |
| Subscription | Monthly | Caribou Perks Loyalty Rewards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee and Merchandise |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping Options |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Caribou Coffee Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caribou Coffee operates and franchises a multi-format specialty coffeehouse chain selling handcrafted espresso and brewed coffee beverages, food items, and packaged at-home coffee products through 800+ company-owned and franchise locations across 11 countries. Revenue is driven primarily by in-store beverage and food sales, mobile/app orders, retail packaged coffee (K-Cup pods, whole bean) sold via licensing partners, and franchise royalties.
Product overview
Caribou Coffee Company operates a multi-format specialty coffeehouse chain offering handcrafted beverages, food, and retail products through company-owned and franchise locations. The core offering centers on specialty-grade coffee beverages (espresso drinks, brewed coffee, seasonal specialties) complemented by an at-home coffee line (whole bean, K-Cups, subscriptions) and branded merchandise. The product ecosystem includes the Caribou Perks loyalty program and mobile app for ordering, payment, and rewards. Distribution spans 800+ locations across 11 countries via traditional coffeehouse, drive-thru cabin, and non-traditional (license/hospitality) formats, with packaged goods licensed through JDE Peet’s.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Caribou Perks: Loyalty rewards program offering points for purchases, free drinks, and exclusive member deals.
- Caribou Coffee App
Products and services
- Handcrafted Coffee Beverages Handcrafted espresso, brewed coffee, cold brew, blended drinks, and seasonal specialty beverages prepared in-store by baristas for individual consumer purchase at coffeehouses, drive-thru cabins, and kiosks.
- Food Menu Food items offered at Caribou Coffee locations, including bakery items, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items, designed to pair with the beverage menu.
- At-Home Coffee Products (Whole Bean, Ground, K-Cup Pods) Packaged Caribou Coffee branded whole bean, ground, and K-Cup pod coffees sold via e-commerce (cariboucoffee.com) and through consumer packaged goods retail channels under license with JDE Peet's.
- Caribou Energy Drinks Caribou-branded energy drink product line introduced by Caribou Coffee as part of the brand refresh, expanding the company's beverage portfolio.
- Amy's Blend Ready-to-Drink Canned Cold Brew Amy's Blend, a new ready-to-drink canned cold brew coffee product, introduced by Caribou Coffee as part of the brand refresh.
- Caribou Perks Loyalty Program Free tiered loyalty program offering points, bonus offers, free drinks, birthday rewards, and tiered status (Hand-Crafted, Coffee Achiever, Top Brew) for individual consumer members, integrated with the Caribou Coffee mobile app.
- Caribou Coffee Mobile App Free iOS/Android mobile application providing mobile order ahead, mobile pay, Caribou Perks loyalty integration, gift card storage, and access to the Digital BOUrista AI assistant for Caribou Coffee customers.
- Caribou Coffee Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards redeemable at participating Caribou Coffee coffeehouse locations, including corporate gifting and bulk purchase options for businesses.
- Caribou Coffee Merchandise and At-Home Subscriptions Branded Caribou Coffee merchandise (e.g., tumblers, mugs) and coffee subscription/auto-delivery offerings sold direct-to-consumer through cariboucoffee.com e-commerce.
- Caribou Coffee Franchising Franchise program offering multi-format opportunities — traditional Caribou Coffee coffeehouses, drive-thru cabins, and small-footprint non-traditional locations — including conversion opportunities for existing operators.
- Non-Traditional License Partner Program (including Caribou Coffee Self-Serve) B2B license program (annual license fee plus monthly royalty, no traditional franchise agreement) for non-traditional venues such as grocery, airports, hotels, hospitals, universities, convenience stores, and entertainment venues, plus an automated Caribou Coffee Self-Serve B2B solution.
- Proudly Serving Program B2B wholesale beverage service for workplaces, healthcare facilities, universities and colleges, and travel/hospitality operators, positioning Caribou Coffee as a premium on-site coffee program anchored by 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee.
Quantifiable outcome
- First major U.S. coffeehouse to achieve 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee sourcing
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Caribou Coffee Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Caribou Coffee Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Caribou Coffee Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Omni Hotels & ResortscoreOmni Hotels & Resorts partnered with Caribou Coffee effective February 1, 2026, to serve Caribou Coffee and other Peet's family brands (Stumptown, Intelligentsia) at Omni properties. Select locations will debut specialty-branded cafes including Omni Dallas Hotel, Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, and Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Partnership positioned as extension of Omni's guest-driven hospitality experience with emphasis on quality and thoughtful service.
- Milk BarminorCaribou Coffee partnered with Milk Bar (Christina Tosi's iconic bakery brand) to bring Milk Bar treats to coffeehouses nationwide. Partnership launched May 2025, bringing Milk Bar's signature cookies, cakes, and confections to Caribou locations.
- ToastcoreCaribou Coffee selected Toast as its new point-of-sale platform to support its growing coffeehouse footprint. Toast provides restaurant POS technology, payment processing, and operational management tools.
- JDE Peet'scoreCaribou Coffee entered a long-term strategic CPG license agreement with JDE Peet's (completed March 2024) for consumer packaged goods licensing. JDE Peet's acquired Caribou Coffee in a $260-million transaction. The agreement enables Caribou-branded products in retail channels beyond the company's direct footprint.
- Gray Duck SpiritsminorCaribou Coffee collaborated with Gray Duck Spirits on a new Spiked Nitro Cold Brew beverage, combining coffee with spirits for an adult beverage option.
- SwigminorCaribou Coffee collaborated with Swig to create limited-edition Cup Coolies merchandise designed to keep drinks chilled for up to two hours longer. Partnership targets iced coffee season with colorful, seasonal merchandise drops.
- Uber EatscoreUber Eats partnership enables Caribou Coffee delivery to customers through the Uber Eats platform, extending reach beyond physical store locations and drive-thru service.
- EnveritascoreEnveritas partnership provides independent, nonprofit verification of Caribou Coffee's responsible sourcing practices. Annual verification includes document reviews, supplier integrity checks, on-site inspections, and randomized interviews with farmers and workers, supporting Caribou's 'Real Impact' sustainability program.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Caribou Coffee Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Starbucks: Largest U.S. specialty coffee chain with a global footprint. Direct competitor in handcrafted espresso beverages, drive-thru, mobile ordering, and loyalty — competing for the same morning-occasion consumer as Caribou.
- Panera Bread: Former sister brand under Panera Brands. Operates a complementary bakery-cafe format with coffee, breakfast, and loyalty program; historically shared back-office and ownership with Caribou.
- Einstein Bros Bagels: Bagel-and-coffee chain that was part of Caribou's parent portfolio and was reportedly shopped alongside Caribou in 2024. Overlaps on breakfast-occasion coffee and franchise model.
- Tim Hortons: Canadian coffee and donut QSR with growing U.S. footprint. Comparable on value-tier coffee, breakfast-occasion focus, and franchise expansion into U.S. markets.
- Lavazza: Italian coffee major operating retail coffeehouses and CPG products globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent with both cafe and packaged goods channels competing for coffee consumer occasions.
Direct peers
- Dutch Bros Coffee: Fast-growing specialty coffee chain with drive-thru-led, franchise-supported expansion. Directly comparable to Caribou on beverage menu, drive-thru economics, and value-tier positioning.
- Dunkin': High-volume U.S. coffee and breakfast chain competing on value, drive-thru, and mobile loyalty (DD Perks). Overlaps Caribou on espresso-based beverages and morning-occasion share, though positioned at a lower price point.
- Peet's Coffee: Specialty coffee brand also owned by JDE Peet's, with coffeehouses, CPG, and B2B wholesale. Closely comparable to Caribou in product mix, premium positioning, and now corporate parentage — explicitly grouped together in the Omni Hotels partnership.
Emerging players
- Scooter's Coffee: Rapidly expanding specialty coffee drive-thru chain with strong Midwest overlap. Direct competition for franchise operators and real estate in Caribou's core geographies.
- Biggby Coffee: Midwest-based specialty coffee franchise with comparable beverage menu and franchise-driven growth. Competes for the same regional franchisee talent pool as Caribou.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Caribou Coffee Company social profiles
Digital presenceCaribou Coffee Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Caribou Coffee Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caribou Coffee Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Caribou Coffee Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caribou Coffee Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Caribou Coffee Company
What does Caribou Coffee Company do?
Caribou Coffee operates and franchises a multi-format specialty coffeehouse chain selling handcrafted espresso and brewed coffee beverages, food items, and packaged at-home coffee products through 800+ company-owned and franchise locations across 11 countries. Revenue is driven primarily by in-store beverage and food sales, mobile/app orders, retail packaged coffee (K-Cup pods, whole bean) sold via licensing partners, and franchise royalties.
Is Caribou Coffee Company a public or private company?
Caribou Coffee Company is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Caribou Coffee Company founded?
Caribou Coffee Company was founded in 1992. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Caribou Coffee Company based?
Caribou Coffee Company is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Caribou Coffee Company make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Coffee Sales are the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees and Royalties, CPG Licensing (JDE Peet's) and E-commerce Retail.
Who are Caribou Coffee Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Starbucks, Panera Bread, Einstein Bros Bagels, Tim Hortons and Lavazza. Direct peers are Dutch Bros Coffee, Dunkin' and Peet's Coffee. Emerging players are Scooter's Coffee and Biggby Coffee.
Does Caribou Coffee Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caribou Coffee Company.
What industry is Caribou Coffee Company in?
Caribou Coffee Company's product category is Specialty Coffeehouse Chain. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAB, Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes, with a secondary code of THAFADAK, Drive-Thru Coffee Stands & Coffee Kiosks. Its NAICS code is 722515 and its SIC code is 5810.