Press photo courtesy of FairWave Coffee Collective.
FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective is acquiring North Carolina-based roaster and cafe chain Joe Van Gogh Coffee, growing FairWave’s footprint in the region following the 2025 acquisition of Raleigh’s Black & White Coffee Roasters.
Financial terms of the deal, announced by FairWave on Feb. 2, were not disclosed.
FairWave, based in Kansas City and backed by Great Range Capital, said its holdings now include 14 coffee, tea and bakery brands operating in more than 40 cafes, roasteries and bakeries. FairWave brands currently operate in the regional markets of Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore/Annapolis and North Carolina’s Triangle.
The company most recently acquired Milwaukee-area roaster and cafe chain Fiddleheads Coffee.
Joe Van Gogh traces its roots to Raleigh, where founder Robbie Roberts began roasting coffee in 1991. The company opened its first cafe in Chapel Hill in 1995 and has since grown into a business spanning cafes, wholesale, e-commerce, training and equipment service, FairWave said.
Joe Van Gogh’s website lists six cafes in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, including a UNC campus cafe, and roasting operations based in Hillsborough.
Press photo courtesy of FairWave Coffee Collective.
The company, which takes its name from a Dan Bern song, has incorporated a range of environmental sustainability initiatives into its operations, including solar panels on its roastery roof and compostable single-use packaging in cafes.
According to a media guide provided by FairWave, each brand continues to be operated by its own staff and regional market leadership, while FairWave provides “backend support to help these brands thrive.”
“We are beyond impressed and inspired by the Joe Van Gogh team on so many levels, and we’re really excited to work with them,” Isaac Hodges, president of growth at FairWave said in an announcement of the deal. “They care about their people and their community above all else. Their team is stacked with experienced industry leaders who hold deep expertise across many disciplines.”
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