What Vida e Caffè does

Vida e Caffè is a privately-owned specialty coffee franchise founded in 2001 on Kloof Street, Cape Town, that has built the largest privately-owned specialty coffee franchise network in Africa with more than 300 stores across South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and Mauritius. It operates predominantly through franchised high-street, shopping-centre and standalone stores, complemented by 150-plus Shell forecourt retail sites countrywide, corporate vending solutions with telemetry-enabled equipment, and on-site coffee-store installations for enterprise clients. The functional purpose is to deliver specialty coffee and a broad food menu (including vegetarian, vegan and halal options) to daily consumers while extending the brand into at-home, on-the-go and corporate refreshment contexts.

The product and technology portfolio centres on three layers. The first is the brick-and-mortar café experience supported by franchise operations, a Level 2 BBBEE-rated corporate services entity, and a vendor-managed supply chain. The second is the vida mobile app — first launched by a national South African coffee chain in 2015 — which bundles payment (with on-device encrypted credit-card storage), 5% cashback loyalty, order-ahead with curbside collect, digital gift vouchers via the #VIDALOVE programme, barista tipping and store locator, and integrates with SnapScan for in-store contactless payment and with Discovery Vitality Active Rewards and Varsity Vibe for partner loyalty redemption. The third layer is the retail and corporate channel: bottled Iced Caffè, compostable Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules (Obrigado XX), single-origin Kloof Street Tanzanian beans, Instant Cappuccino, CBD Flat White with goodleaf, PrimeSelf functional add-ons (Shroom Elixir, Keto Creamer) and seasonal menus, distributed through stores, e-commerce (Takealot, Jumia, Coffee Capsules Direct, Online Beverage Store), delivery partners (Mr D Food, Uber Eats) and corporate vending rentals on 36- and 60-month terms.

The revenue model mixes franchise royalties and licensing fees, transaction-based sales across 300-plus franchise locations, recurring revenue from corporate vending equipment rentals and managed services, and direct retail of coffee products and merchandise. Pricing is set in South African Rand across a tiered beverage size ladder (Solo, Mucho, Grandè) with pay-as-you-go per unit; the app introduces a recurring-cashback loyalty mechanic that effectively functions as a volume rebate. Customer segments are primarily individual commuters, professionals, students and health-conscious consumers, with a secondary enterprise segment anchored by Standard Bank, Vodacom, MTN and Metropolitan for vending and on-site café deployments. The group also owns the Sweetbeet healthy-food brand, acquired in late 2021, which broadens the demographic mix and provides a parallel organic growth vector.

Name

Vida e Caffè

Legal name

Vida e Caffe Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://vidaecaffe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Vida e Caffè is Africa's largest privately-owned specialty coffee franchise, operating 300-plus stores across South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and Mauritius via franchisees, a 150-site Shell forecourt partnership, corporate vending solutions and a mobile loyalty app serving daily coffee consumers and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee / Coffee Shop Franchise

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD), Breakfast & Coffee QSR (THAFAAAI), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Single-Serve Coffee (Pods, Capsules) (CRADAHAH), Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee franchise
• Coffee shop chain
• Mobile loyalty app
• Corporate vending solutions
• Compostable coffee capsules

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Store Sales: Revenue generated from coffee, food, and beverages sold at over 300 franchise stores across Africa. Stores operated by franchisees under license agreement.
2. Mobile App Loyalty & Payments: App generates revenue through transaction processing and drives customer loyalty with 5% cashback on all purchases. Additional revenue from gift voucher sales.
3. Corporate Vending Solutions: 36 and 60-month equipment rental packages for corporate clients including technical support and maintenance services. Includes vending solutions for Shell forecourts and corporate offices.
4. Retail Products: Sale of retail products including coffee beans (Kloof Street Tanzanian single-origin at R89.00), compostable coffee capsules, cold brew coffee, and instant cappuccino sachets through stores and online partners.
5. Franchise Licensing: Revenue from licensing the vida e caffè brand to franchisees. Privately-owned coffee shop franchise with affiliates and business partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vida e Caffè is a Portuguese-inspired specialty coffee franchise operating 300+ stores across South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, and Mauritius. It sells coffee beverages, food, bottled iced coffee, compostable coffee capsules, instant cappuccino, and functional coffee add-ons through franchise retail stores, Shell forecourt locations, corporate vending solutions, delivery platforms, and e-commerce channels. The company also runs the vida mobile loyalty app with 5% cashback, order-ahead, and digital gift voucher capabilities.

Product overview

Vida e Caffè is a Portuguese-inspired specialty coffee franchise and the largest privately-owned specialty coffee franchise in Africa, operating since 2001. The core offering is its coffee shop business with 300+ stores across South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, and Mauritius, serving coffee, food, and treats through corporate stores, franchises, Shell forecourt locations, and corporate vending solutions. The product portfolio centres on the vida App (mobile loyalty and ordering platform with Pay & Earn, Order Ahead, and loyalty programme), Ready-to-Drink bottled Iced Caffè, Compostable Coffee Capsules (Obrigado XX, Nespresso®-compatible), Instant Cappuccino, CBD Flat White (goodleaf collaboration), PrimeSelf functional add-ons (Shroom Elixir and Keto Creamer), and seasonal menus (Summer Serve, Flavourful Winter). The group also acquired Sweetbeet, a health-focused food chain, in 2021. Retail products include single-origin coffee beans (Kloof Street Tanzanian) and compostable capsules. Partnerships include Discovery Vitality (loyalty rewards), Varsity Vibe (student discounts), delivery via Uber Eats and Mr D Food, and 5-year partnership with LIFT airline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vida e Caffè Coffee Shop / Franchise Portuguese-inspired specialty coffee shop franchise offering coffee beverages, food (breakfast, lunch, snacks, sweet treats), smoothies, juices, and hot drinks across 300+ stores in South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, and Mauritius. Operates through corporate stores, franchises, Shell forecourt locations, corporate vending solutions, and delivery partnerships.
• Vida Mobile Loyalty & Ordering App Mobile loyalty and ordering application offering Pay & Earn (5% cashback on all transactions), Order Ahead with curbside collect, loyalty programme, digital gift vouchers (#vidalove), barista tipping, store locator, and localised promotions. Available on Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery. Credit card details are encrypted and stored on-device.
• Corporate Vending Solutions Bespoke corporate coffee solutions including on-site coffee stores with comfortable seating and free WiFi, plus vending solutions (French Press, Capsules, Filter, Pump Pot) with 36 and 60-month rental packages that include technical support, maintenance, telemetry, and swipe card systems. Serves enterprise clients such as Standard Bank, Vodacom, MTN, and Metropolitan.
• Ready-to-Drink Iced Caffè (Bottled) Grab-and-go bottled iced coffee made with 100% Arabica beans and full-cream milk. Available in Coffee, Mocha, and Vanilla flavours in 300ml bottles. Won first place at The South African Dairy Championships in the Flavoured Milk category.
• Compostable Coffee Capsules (Obrigado XX) Home-compostable coffee capsules in the Obrigado XX medium-dark roast blend, compatible with Nespresso machines. Both pod and lid certified home compostable — decomposing within 12 weeks under industrial composting or 24 weeks in home compost.
• Instant Cappuccino Premium instant cappuccino for at-home preparation. Medium-roast with smooth chocolatey flavour, balanced sweetness, and creamy mouthfeel. Part of the 'vida at home' instant range alongside Instant Hot Chocolate and Instant Spiced Chai Latte.
• CBD Flat White (goodleaf Collaboration) Double-shot espresso flat white with 10mg goodleaf CBD, the first CBD coffee offering in the South African coffee industry. CBD sachets are also available to add to any beverage for R10 extra. Available at non-halaal stores nationwide.
• PrimeSelf Functional Coffee Add-ons (Shroom Elixir & Keto Creamer) Functional wellness sachets added to coffee. PrimeSelf Shroom Elixir combines Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Reishi mushrooms (500mg each at 30% beta-glucans) for immune support, cognitive clarity, and stress resilience. PrimeSelf Keto Creamer combines MCTs with L-Theanine for sustained energy and calm focus.
• Kloof Street Single-Origin Tanzanian Coffee Single-origin Tanzanian heritage roast named after Vida's first store on Kloof Street, Cape Town. Shade-grown above 1400m on slopes of Mount Meru. Tasting notes: creamy body, wafer biscuit sweetness, caramel finish. Available as retail beans at R89 per bag.
• Iced Matcha Latte Lineup Three iced matcha beverages using high-quality Japanese matcha: Blended Frio Matcha, Iced Matcha Latte (customisable with vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrup), and Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte (with strawberry puree). Available in Mucho and Grandè sizes.
• Flavourful Winter Menu Seasonal winter menu featuring Cherry Latte, Spanish Latte, Iced Spanish Latte, Apple Caramel Latte, Strawberry Matcha, Apple Caramel Chai Latte, plus savoury items (Honey Mustard Smoked Chicken Wrap, Spicy Tuna Melt Toastie, Lemon & Herb Chicken Focaccia, Honey Mustard Smoked Chicken Quesadilla) and sweet treats (Cinnamon Doughnut, Blueberry & Bran Muffin, Apple Streusel, Cinnamon Cruffin).
• Summer Serve Menu Seasonal summer menu featuring Pistachio Latte Espresso, Iced Pistachio Latte, Tropical Espresso Tonic, specialty teas (Sweet Ginger, Peppermint, Green Angel), smoothies (Mocha Madness, Berry Boost), frios (Creamy Lemonade, Berry Buzz Grande, Frioshake Dubai Choc, Tiramisu, Iced Matcha Coconut Cloud), and food items (Bombay Chicken Toastie, Prego Ch*cken Wrap, Strawberry Matcha Yoghurt Pot, Overnight Oats).
• Summer Red Bull Infusions Three new iced beverages built on Red Bull Summer Edition: Peachstachio (peach with hint of pistachio), Peachy Cheeks (juicy peach and strawberry), and Peaches & Cream (peach with vanilla sauce and Red Bull energy). Mixed in-store and available at vida stores nationwide.
• Sweetbeet (Acquired Brand) Healthy food chain offering healthier food and drink options, acquired by Vida e Caffè at end of 2021. Operates under separate brand identity with plans to grow to 18 locations. Vida coffee is served in Sweetbeet outlets and Sweetbeet products are sold in selected vida stores.
• Discovery Vitality Rewards Partnership Strategic loyalty partnership with Discovery Vitality Active Rewards enabling members to redeem Discovery Miles for vida products — including Solo/Mucho caffè or hot drinks, smoothies, frio, iced caffè, Grandè caffè, the vida Vitality smoothie, R100 in-store rewards, and a reusable bamboo cup.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170+ Shell forecourt locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SweetbeetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Acquisition of healthy food chain Sweetbeet in late 2021. Brand founders Andrea and Francois Hamman remain as co-managers. Sweetbeet operates under separate identity with plan to grow to 18 locations by February 2023. Vida coffee now served in Sweetbeet outlets.
• Discovery VitalitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2021Strategic brand partnership since 2015 for Vitality Active Rewards integration. Members can earn Discovery Miles and redeem rewards at vida stores including Solo/Mucho caffè (Đ200), smoothies and iced caffè (Đ300), and R100 in-store rewards (Đ1000). Also offers reusable bamboo cup redemption (Đ1200).
• LIFT (Airline)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20205-year partnership since LIFT launch providing complimentary vida coffee and Lindt Excellence mini slabs on every flight. Creating premium in-flight coffee experience for thousands of travellers.
• ShellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Forecourt partnership with over 150 Shell retail sites countrywide. Hit milestone of 100th store within two years. Shell Ultracity locations and national roads coverage.
• Uber EatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partnership launched in 2019 for safe delivery of vida favourites to customer doorsteps across selected suburbs and city centres.
• Mr D FoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partnership launched in 2019 for safe delivery of vida favourites to customer doorsteps across selected suburbs and city centres.
• Sealand GearminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability collaboration creating limited-edition tote bags from upcycled spent coffee grounds and hemp fabric, aligning with vida e mundo ethos.
• DartpaccoreTechnology or IntegrationLocal South African manufacturer producing 100% biodegradable and compostable paper cups, moulded fibre lids, and cup carriers from waste materials. Awarded Gold Pack Awards finalist for sustainable packaging innovation.
• goodleafminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBD collaboration launching CBD Flat White with 10mg goodleaf CBD powder. Also introduced CBD sparkling water (Berry & Hibiscus, Mango & Ginger flavours with 4mg CBD).
• On The Green SideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlant-based food brand partnership providing vegan Ch*cken Mayo Toastie and Asian BBQ Ch*cken Wrap products. Premium local brand retailing at Spar, Wellness Warehouse, Pick n Pay, and Food Lovers Market.
• SA HarvestminorOthersFood surplus donation partnership where select stores donate surplus food to support local communities and reduce food waste.
• FoodForward South AfricaminorOthersFood surplus donation partnership where select stores donate surplus food to support local communities and reduce food waste.
• The Beach Co-OpminorOthersEnvironmental partnership for beach cleanup initiatives. Collected 103.8kg of waste at Muizenberg beach cleanup, with 10kg going to glass recycling.
• Varsity VibeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent discount app partnership offering SA students 10-20% off beverages and toasties. Freemium members get 10%, Premium members get 20% discount at selected stores nationwide.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mugg & Bean: South Africa's largest franchised coffee-focused diner chain with ~270 stores. Directly competes with Vida in the South African specialty coffee/diner segment on menu breadth, value pricing, and franchise scale.
• Bootlegger Coffee Company: South African specialty coffee chain focused on single-origin espresso and casual dining. Overlaps directly with Vida on specialty coffee positioning, store format, and target consumer.
• Seattle Coffee Company: Established South African specialty coffee chain competing head-to-head with Vida on neighborhood café experience, espresso-based menu, and loyalty programs.
• Tashas: Premium South African café/diner chain with specialty coffee and elevated food menu. Competes with Vida on lifestyle café experience and aspirational target consumers in metropolitan SA.

Broad incumbents

• Starbucks South Africa: Global specialty coffee leader with licensed South African operations. Competes with Vida on premium coffee positioning but operates as part of a much broader global portfolio rather than an Africa-specialized franchise.
• Costa Coffee South Africa: UK-based specialty coffee chain with South African franchise footprint. Offers comparable espresso-based menu and café store formats but draws on a much larger global brand and operational system.
• Wimpy South Africa: Established South African breakfast and coffee QSR franchise. Overlaps with Vida on breakfast/coffee daypart and franchise distribution but competes primarily on full diner menu rather than specialty coffee positioning.
• McCafé South Africa: McDonald's branded specialty coffee offering operating inside South African QSR stores. Competes with Vida on price and convenience coffee occasions as part of a much broader QSR portfolio.

Regional players

• Java House: East Africa's largest coffee chain with presence in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania. Comparable African specialty coffee franchise model to Vida but primarily East African geography.

Emerging players

• KAUAI: South African health-focused café chain specializing in smoothies, juices, and healthier food. Overlaps with Vida on the health-conscious consumer segment (relevant to Sweetbeet and plant-based menus) rather than core coffee competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/vidaecaffe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqZTKwgCh1j4IL1xsA5SPlg
• Facebookfacebook.com/vida/?ref=settings
• Instagraminstagram.com/vidaecaffe_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vida-e-caffe

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vida e Caffè