The owners of two of the Republic's best-known domestic brands have formed a strategic partnership that will see Jacob Fruitfield sell Bewley's food and coffee products under licence.
The agreement marks a further step in the reorganisation of the Bewley's business following the closure of its café chain last year.
From May, Jacob Fruitfield will market, sell and distribute all Bewley's-branded coffee and tea products and biscuits, cakes and confectionary.
While the value of the deal was not disclosed, a Bewley's spokesman said the annual domestic sales of such products were valued at €10 million.
Jacob Fruitfield owns the Jacob's, Chef, Fruitfield, Silvermints and Bolands brands.
"The potential to develop Bewley's products alongside Jacob's is a hugely exciting one," said Jacob Fruitfield chief executive Michael Carey.
Jacob Fruitfield was formed after a management buyout of Nestlé Ireland in 2002 and the acquisition last year of Jacob's biscuit business from Danone. The company had sales of €105 million in 2004.
The Bewley's spokesman said that the company had signed heads of agreement with the owners of the Café Bar Deli chain to open a restaurant under the Bewley's name in its old café at Grafton Street, in Dublin's city centre.
