Serbia's specialty coffee chain Kafeterija has agreed to acquire local competitor Loft, marking its first takeover as it seeks growth beyond its domestic market.
The announcement was made by Bulgarian private equity firm BlackPeak Capital, a shareholder in Kafeterija, through a LinkedIn post. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Loft operates nine locations, all situated in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.
In the post, BlackPeak Capital stated, "This transaction marks an important step in Kafeterija's regional expansion strategy. With over 60 locations across Serbia and Montenegro, Kafeterija is establishing itself as the region's leading specialty coffee platform."
"We are supporting Kafeterija's management team in executing both organic growth and targeted acquisitions across Southeast Europe. The company is actively evaluating similar formats in neighbouring markets," the post continued.
"We are proud to back Kafeterija as it builds Southeast Europe's leading specialty coffee brand," it added.
Headquartered in Belgrade, Kafeterija was founded in 2013 by Zoran Stanojevic and Marko Vukomanovic, according to a SeeNews report.
The company's annual financial statement for 2024 showed revenue of RSD 2.1 billion ($21 million) and a net profit of RSD 46.5 million. This compares to revenue of RSD 1.7 billion and net profit of RSD 70 million the previous year.
Cyprus-based Kining Holdings Limited holds an 83.05% stake in Kafeterija, with BlackPeak Capital owning the remaining shares following its investment in April 2025.
At that time, Stanojevic said the group aims to reach 150 outlets across Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, and achieve €70 million ($81 million) in annual sales within the next five years.