Cibo Espresso

Cibo Espresso, commonly shortened to Cibo, is an Australian café and coffee-shop franchise based in Adelaide, South Australia. The brand was established in 2000 by Roberto Cardone, Angelo Inglese, Salvatore Pepe and Claudio Ferraro. Its concept combined espresso-based coffee and café dining with an Italian atmosphere, using local ingredients and presenting a more independent, hospitality-led alternative to large international coffee chains. The business initially expanded within South Australia and reached 20 locations before being sold to Retail Zoo in 2012. Under Retail Zoo ownership, the chain grew to 28 locations in South Australia, with additional stores in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Although its footprint remained concentrated in Australia, particularly Adelaide and South Australia, Cibo developed substantial local recognition and customer loyalty. Its positioning was rooted in an Italian café identity rather than the standardized international format associated with larger chains such as Starbucks, Gloria Jean's and Hudsons Coffee. Cibo's offer centered on coffee, Italian-inspired food and the broader café experience. Stores were intended to provide a distinctly Italian environment, with the brand emphasizing locally sourced ingredients alongside traditional Italian culinary cues. This combination helped it establish a strong regional identity in Adelaide. The company also participated in local community and sporting activity through sponsorship of the Adelaide cycling team Team Cibo. At the time of its 2024 sale, the chain comprised 22 shops. Gloria Jean's Coffees acquired the brand from Retail Zoo, and the purchasers planned to convert the remaining Cibo locations into Gloria Jean's branches by the middle of 2025. This transaction marked a major change in the brand's operating trajectory and creates uncertainty over whether Cibo Espresso continues as a standalone retail identity. No separate current website, listed-company information or independently reported post-transition operating status is identified in the supplied reference material.

Cibo Espresso was founded in Adelaide in 2000 by Roberto Cardone, Angelo Inglese, Salvatore Pepe and Claudio Ferraro. The founders developed the business as an Italian-style café concept, combining espresso coffee, traditional Italian food and a setting intended to convey an Italian atmosphere. The use of local ingredients was part of the concept, allowing the brand to connect Italian culinary traditions with its South Australian setting. The chain expanded from its Adelaide base and reached 20 locations before being sold to Retail Zoo in 2012. Retail Zoo ownership was followed by further expansion. At its larger reported footprint, Cibo operated 28 locations in South Australia and one location each in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Despite its smaller geographic scale compared with national and international coffee chains, the brand developed notable loyalty in Adelaide. Its local identity and Italian positioning distinguished it from larger branded competitors, including Starbucks, Gloria Jean's and Hudsons Coffee. Cibo also engaged with the local community through sponsorship of Team Cibo, an Adelaide cycling team. This association complemented the brand's regional identity and connected it with a visible South Australian sporting activity. By 2024, the chain had contracted to 22 shops and was sold by Retail Zoo to Gloria Jean's Coffees. The buyers announced an intention to convert the Cibo stores into Gloria Jean's outlets by mid-2025. The sale therefore represented not merely a change in ownership but a planned brand transition. Because the supplied references do not establish the final status of every location or confirm whether the Cibo name remained in use after the planned conversions, the brand's present status is recorded as unknown.

• 2025

  Planned transition to Gloria Jean's

  [1]Cibo Espressoen.wikipedia.org

  The purchasers intended to convert the Cibo locations into Gloria Jean's branches by mid-2025; the supplied material does not confirm the completion of that process.

• 2024

  Acquisition by Gloria Jean's Coffees

  [1]Cibo Espressoen.wikipedia.org

  Gloria Jean's Coffees purchased Cibo Espresso from Retail Zoo when the chain comprised 22 shops.

• 2012

  Sale to Retail Zoo

  [1]Cibo Espressoen.wikipedia.org

  After reaching 20 locations, Cibo Espresso was sold to Retail Zoo.

• 2000

  Cibo Espresso founded in Adelaide

  [1]Cibo Espressoen.wikipedia.org

  Roberto Cardone, Angelo Inglese, Salvatore Pepe and Claudio Ferraro founded the Italian-style café brand in Adelaide, South Australia.

A locally rooted Australian café chain built around Italian coffee culture, traditional Italian-inspired food, local ingredients and a distinctive hospitality atmosphere.

• Coffee · 2000

  Espresso coffee

  Espresso-based coffee was central to Cibo Espresso's café proposition. The brand used coffee service as the foundation of an Italian-inspired hospitality experience, presenting itself as a specialist café rather than simply a general food retailer.

• Food · 2000

  Italian-style café food

  Cibo offered traditional Italian-inspired café food made with local ingredients. The food range supported the brand's positioning as a place for both casual dining and coffee, while reinforcing the Italian atmosphere intended by its founders.

• Café menu · 2000

  Café beverages and pastries

  The café format included the broader beverage and baked-food categories normally associated with an Italian-style coffee shop, including non-espresso café drinks and pastry-oriented accompaniments. The supplied reference material does not identify specific recipes or product names.

• Team Cibo sponsorship

  Adelaide · South Australia

  Cibo Espresso sponsored Team Cibo, an Adelaide cycling team. The sponsorship linked the café brand with a local sporting organization and reinforced its South Australian community identity.

  Outcome. The supplied reference confirms the sponsorship but does not provide campaign dates, investment, performance measures or a documented end date.

  Source

• 2024

  Sale to Gloria Jean's CoffeesM&A

  Background

  Cibo Espresso was owned by Retail Zoo and had 22 shops at the time of the transaction.

  Action taken

  Gloria Jean's Coffees acquired the brand from Retail Zoo.

  Aftermath

  The purchasers intended to rebrand the Cibo locations as Gloria Jean's branches by mid-2025, potentially ending Cibo's operation as a standalone café brand.

  Source

• 2012

  Sale to Retail ZooM&A

  Background

  Cibo Espresso had grown to 20 locations before changing ownership.

  Action taken

  The founders or prior owners sold the café chain to Retail Zoo.

  Aftermath

  The chain subsequently expanded to 28 South Australian locations, plus one store in each of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

  Source

1. 1Cibo Espressoen.wikipedia.org