Illycaffè is reportedly strengthening its North American production network through a multi-year agreement with Westrock Coffee Company. The partnership is expected to support the development, manufacturing and packaging of selected products for the region, with ready-to-drink coffee identified as a central area of focus.

The agreement has been reported by Italian media, although neither company has published full transaction details through its corporate pressroom or investor-relations channels. Westrock has confirmed that Illycaffè is joining its beverage production platform, while declining to specify the exact products or manufacturing responsibilities covered by the arrangement.

The partnership could allow Illycaffè to package a larger share of its North American portfolio closer to the markets where those products are sold.

According to the reports, Illycaffè plans to double the proportion of North American products packaged locally. This approach can shorten supply routes, improve responsiveness to demand and reduce the logistical complexity associated with shipping finished beverages from Europe.

Local production is particularly relevant for ready-to-drink coffee, where packaging, filling, thermal processing and distribution must be closely coordinated. Cans, glass bottles and multi-serve containers require dedicated production lines, quality controls and supply chains capable of serving retailers at scale.

Illycaffè’s roasting operations are expected to remain at its main facility in Trieste, Italy. The company has continued to invest in that site, maintaining control over the roasting process that defines its core coffee profile while using external manufacturing capacity for downstream beverage preparation and packaging.

This division of responsibilities could help Illy preserve product consistency while gaining greater flexibility in North America. Concentrates, extracts or roasted coffee inputs can be produced under Illy’s established standards, with Westrock supporting formulation, processing, filling and packaging closer to the final market.

Westrock has positioned itself as a large-scale beverage solutions provider for global brands. Its capabilities span coffee, tea, energy drinks, functional beverages and ready-to-drink products, with packaging options including cans, glass, bottles, capsules and bulk formats.

The company significantly expanded its infrastructure in Conway, Arkansas, with the opening of a 570,000-square-foot beverage facility in 2024. The $315 million site includes coffee storage, automated roasting systems, processing tanks, packaging lines and a product development laboratory.

Westrock later added a 525,000-square-foot single-serve pod facility in Conway, extending its contract manufacturing and packaging capacity. Together, the sites give the company a broad platform for customers seeking product development, scalable production and multiple packaging formats from one supplier.

• Regional packaging can reduce lead times and improve market responsiveness.
• RTD production capacity supports growth in convenient coffee formats.
• Multi-format capabilities provide flexibility across cans, bottles and capsules.
• Local manufacturing can lower supply chain risk and transport complexity.
• Centralised roasting allows Illycaffè to protect product identity and quality.

The United States has become a strategic growth market for Illycaffè. CEO Cristina Scocchia has previously highlighted several years of double-digit growth in the country, making additional regional capacity important for supporting future retail and foodservice expansion.

For packaging suppliers, the reported agreement illustrates how international beverage brands are increasingly combining centralised product expertise with regional manufacturing. This model can provide greater resilience while allowing packaging formats to be adapted to local retail channels, consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.

The partnership also reflects continued investment in ready-to-drink coffee, a category where packaging plays a major role in convenience, shelf life and brand presentation. As Illycaffè expands in North America, Westrock’s manufacturing footprint could provide the scale needed to bring new products to market more quickly.