Did Blue Bottle Coffee “Sell Out” To Nestle?

Soon after hipster coffee brand Blue Bottle Coffee sold to Nestle, founder James Freeman gave this wonderfully candid interview where observes how the deal probably dragged on because lawyers get paid by the hour. When asked about the backlash on social, he rightly noted: “nobody grabs their telephone and opens up Twitter and types in all caps, ‘I’M GOING TO GIVE THIS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.’” The interview offered a glimmer of hope that Blue Bottle might, like Ben & Jerry’s, end up a beloved startup that manages to sell their company without selling their soul. Read the full story on Grub Street > Love non-obvious stories? Get my weekly newsletter with stories like this one along with a short but useful analysis of why it matters ... all delivered directly to your inbox every Thursday morning!

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