Diary

Not just one more cup of coffee for Fracino

By Attracta Mooney

Tea might be the quintessential British beverage, but one family business in the UK has fully embraced arch rival coffee.

Birmingham-based Fracino, the only British manufacturer of cappuccino and espresso machines, has found that, with demand so great for its products, it has had to expand.

Fracino is looking to challenge Italy and Spain, countries that traditionally dominate the manufacturing of cappuccino and espresso machines, and is now selling almost 3,000 machines a year.

As part of its expansion, the family-controlled business will operate from a purpose-built headquarters, while its existing premises has been turned into a servicing department and showroom.

The company needs the extra space – its workforce has grown by almost 50% in just three years.

Interestingly, the business is owned by the Maxwells, who share their name with well-known coffee brand Maxwell House, owned by Kraft Foods.

Fracino chairman Frank Maxwell founded the business in 1964, when he began making coffee machines in his garden shed. Now his son Adrian is managing director and daughter-in-law Marion is credit controller. Meanwhile, granddaughter Rebecca joined the business in June 2009. 

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