Former JDE Peet’s VP of Global Wholesale David Ferreira joins Costa USA as Senior Director of Strategic Sales
Costa Coffee USA Senior Director of Strategic Sales, David Ferreira | Photo credit: LinkedIn
Costa Coffee has appointed David Ferreira as Senior Director of Strategic Sales for the US as it seeks further growth in the vast American travel retail market.
Ferreira will be responsible for expanding Costa’s travel hub presence by establishing partnerships with concessionaires, F&B operators and retailers, with a remit to scale the coffee chain’s coffee shop, smart café and self-serve vending networks.
“Costa Coffee is a globally recognised brand with a rich heritage, and I am excited to lead its strategic sales efforts in the US market. The travel retail sector presents significant opportunities for premium coffee experiences. I look forward to working with our partners to enhance Costa Coffee’s offerings across key travel hubs and introduce more US travellers to the brand,” Ferreira said.
Following its £3.9bn ($4.8bn) acquisition by Cola-Cola in late 2018, Costa has operated in the US market via automated Costa Coffee Smart Café machines and BaristaBot self-serve units.
In October 2020, Costa purchased US ‘coffee robot’ brand Briggo for an undisclosed sum, a savvy acquisition at the time given in-store trading restrictions during the pandemic.
The coffee chain currently has a presence in 17 US airports and operates six stand-alone coffee shops – five in Atlanta, Georgia, and a single site at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – alongside its automated and self-serve coffee machine network.
In August 2024, Costa unveiled a new 24sq ft fully automated robotic coffee stand at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas in partnership with US hospitality group Delaware North. The Costa Coffee Creations concept is capable of producing hot and cold barista-style espresso beverages without human intervention for up to seven days in row.
Ferreira joins Costa from coffee and tea giant JDE Peet’s, where he served as Vice President of Global Wholesale with a focus on US horeca and travel retail channels. He also brings travel retail expertise from serving as a Management Committee Member at the Tax-Free World Association (TFWA) 2014-2016.