Van Houtte

{{Infobox company

| name = Van Houtte

| logo = Image:Van Houtte Logo.svg

| type = Private

| genre =

| foundation = In {{start date and age|1919}} as a Speciality grocery store in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| founder = Albert-Louis Van Houtte

| location_city =

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| location = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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| industry = Restaurants
Retail Coffee
Retail Beverages
Entertainment

| products = Whole Bean Coffee
Made-to-order beverages
Bottled beverages
Baked Goods
Merchandise

| services = Coffee

| revenue =

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| owner = Keurig Dr Pepper

| num_employees =

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| homepage = [https://www.vanhoutte.com/ Company website]

| footnotes =

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}}

Van Houtte Inc. is a company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that processes, distributes and sells coffee and coffee related goods. They have expanded their product selection, which now includes tropical teas, sandwiches and salads.{{Cite web|title=Prêts-à-manger {{!}} Café Van Houtte|url=https://cafevanhoutte.com/fr/grab-n-go/|access-date=2021-11-23|language=fr-FR}} It was founded by Albert-Louis Van Houtte.

History

French-born Albert-Louis Van Houtte (1877–1944)

{{cite web | url=http://www.s88457477.onlinehome.us/genealogie/vanhoutte.html | title=Descendance de Van HOUTTE Auguste-Louis | last=Belliveau | first=Gilles | date=August 11, 2006 | website=Le site de généalogie de Gilles Belliveau | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011114200/http://www.s88457477.onlinehome.us/genealogie/vanhoutte.html | archive-date=October 11, 2008 | language=fr |trans-title=Descendants of Auguste-Louis Van Houtte }} emigrated to Canada in 1912. After the First World War made his attempt at a horse importing business unsustainable, he turned to food retailing. He opened a grocery store in 1919 to sell specialty items but soon found particular success with gourmet coffee roasting.

After Van Houtte's death in 1944, his family continued to operate and develop the Maison A.L. Van Houtte business. In 1980, the family business evolved into a corporation known as A.L Van Houtte Inc., led by Paul-André Guillotte and Benoît Beauregard. In 1987, the company went public on the Montreal Stock Exchange.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/van-houtte-inc-history/|title=History of Van Houtte Inc. – FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-17}} Its corporate name was shortened to Van Houtte Inc. following a shareholder vote on 12 September 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Van-Houtte-Inc-Company-History.html |title=Van Houtte Inc |publisher=Funding Universe |access-date=2013-05-07}}

In 2000, U.S sales alone represented around 20% of the company's total revenues, with products being sold in 28 states.

Today, Van Houtte has grown into an international supplier of coffee, coffee machines and related support for over 60,000 offices and other places of employment in the United States and Canada. The company claims this to be the largest such system in North America.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanhoutte.com/en/services/ |title=Van Houtte website: Coffee Services |publisher=Vanhoutte.com |date=2013-04-12 |access-date=2013-05-07}} Van Houtte also supplies and supports coffee sales for cafeterias, grocery and convenience stores, restaurants and hotels. Van Houtte also offers a selection of fair-traded coffee products.

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Van Houtte still sells coffee directly to customers through its chain of cafés throughout Quebec and two in Ontario (Ottawa).{{cite web|url=https://cafevanhoutte.com/find-a-cafe/ |title=Find a Café-Bistro |publisher=Vanhoutte.com |access-date=2021-06-01}} Van Houtte also offers coffee and associated products for sale through its website.

In May 2007, U.S. private equity firm Littlejohn & Co. announced a $600 million deal that will take Van Houtte ownership out of Canadian hands, although the coffee company will continue to have headquarters in Montreal under its existing name and have the leadership of its current management team.[https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/211411 Private equity firm buying Van Houtte: Connecticut-based Littlejohn & Co. plans privatization], By LuAnn LaSalle of Canadian Press, The Toronto Star, May 8, 2007, retrieved on May 23, 2007

On September 14, 2010, Van Houtte Inc. agreed to be bought by Vermont based coffee company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters for Can $915 million.[https://www.thestar.com/business/article/860705--green-mountain-coffee-buys-van-houtte-for-915m Green Mountain Coffee buys Van Houtte for $915M], by LuAnn LaSalle of the Toronto Star, The Toronto Star, September 14, 2010, retrieved on September 14, 2010 The completion of the transaction was announced on December 17, 2010.[https://archive.today/20120908065628/http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/GMCR.O/key-developments/article/2047474 Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Acquires Van Houtte], Reuters, December 17, 2010

On August 29, 2011 Green Mountain Coffee Roasters sold Van Houtte's U.S. Coffee Service business (Filterfresh) to Aramark for $145 million.{{cite web|author=Business Wire |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111003006862/en/Green-Mountain-Coffee-Roasters-Completes-Sale-Filterfresh |title=Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Completes Sale of Filterfresh Business to ARAMARK |publisher=Business Wire |date=2011-10-03 |access-date=2013-05-07}}

In November 2014, Keurig Green Mountain sold Quebec-based Van Houtte cafes to quick-service restaurant operator MTY Food Group, while retaining control of the Van Houtte brand, image, and wholesale business.{{Cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/keurig-sells-quebec-based-van-houtte-chain-to-mty/article21508919/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&|title=Keurig sells Quebec-based Van Houtte chain to MTY|date=2014-11-07|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-11-14|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mty-food-group-and-keurig-canada-announce-agreement---taking-van-houtte-branded-cafe-bistros-into-new-era-516345271.html|title=MTY Food Group and Keurig Canada Announce Agreement - Taking Van Houtte-Branded Café-Bistros into New Era|date=Nov 7, 2014|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}