The JM Smucker has entered a strategic partnership with pure-play coffee and tea company JDE Peet's to pursue liquid coffee innovation opportunities. Credit: GC Libraries Creative Tech Lab / Unsplash.

The JM Smucker has entered a strategic partnership with pure-play coffee and tea company JDE Peet’s to pursue liquid coffee innovation opportunities.

Under the arrangement, JDE Peet’s will support the Smucker Away From Home liquid coffee business with product development, production and foodservice equipment innovation.

The JM Smucker chief operating officer John Brase said: “We are excited by the promise this partnership holds for our Away From Home liquid coffee business.

“The agreement will allow us to more aggressively pursue liquid coffee innovation opportunities that will enhance current customer solutions and drive category growth.”

Additional terms of the partnership were not disclosed by the companies.

The JM Smucker said that the new partnership will not impact its retail coffee business.

JDE Peet’s Out-of-home global president Satya Menard said: “We are excited to partner with The JM Smucker to offer liquid coffee products to their North American customers.

“Our proprietary liquid coffee system efficiently delivers large quantities of premium coffee in a hygienic manner, making it the perfect solution for hospitals, universities, hotels, conference centres and many other out-of-home customers.”

At the same time, The JM Smucker has announced plans to close and pursue a sale of its production facility in Suffolk of Virginia, US, next spring.

In December 2019, Dutch beverage company Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) had announced that it is set to merge with Peet’s Coffee. The merger created JDE Peet’s that focuses on the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) coffee business.

With global brands such as Peet’s Coffee, L’OR, Jacobs Coffee, Douwe Egberts, Senseo, Tassimo, Moccona, Kenco, Pickwick and Pilão, JDE Peet’s will have a presence in more than 140 countries globally.