Melitta Professional and Henderson Foodservice launch partnership for the ‘Barista Bar’ self-service concept

The partnership focuses on a modern self-service concept for coffee, cold drinks and milkshake specialities in retail outlets

Sep 11, 2026 

Minden. Melitta Professional and Henderson Foodservice are launching a partnership in the field of modern self-service solutions for the retail sector. At the heart of the partnership is the ‘Barista Bar’ self-service concept developed by Henderson Foodservice for coffee, cold drinks and milkshake specialities, which will in future utilise machines from Melitta Professional.

Barista Bar aims to provide consumers in retail outlets with a straightforward, attractive and contemporary range of drinks at the point of sale. The new Melitta Professional machine will enable Barista Bar to add more than 30 new drinks to its range, significantly expanding choice for consumer.The concept is characterised in particular by a wide variety of options: it can process three different types of coffee beans, and two types of milk – cow’s milk and oat milk – are also available, each with a choice of hot or cold milk foam. The range is complemented by iced drinks, matcha, chai and cocoa-based drinks. This creates a versatile drinks concept that specifically caters to diverse consumer preferences and current trends.

The partnership brings together two long-established, family-run corporate groups. Henderson Foodservice traces its origins back to the year 1897, when John Henderson started a grocery shop in Belfast. From these local beginnings, it developed into a diversified group with activities in wholesale, retail and foodservice. The Melitta Group’s roots also stretch back more than 100 years – to the year 1908, when Melitta Bentz laid the foundation for the company’s current coffee expertise with her innovative coffee filter.

“With Barista Bar, Henderson Foodservice has developed a compelling concept that capitalises on current consumer trends and takes the point of sale to the next level. We are delighted to be part of this development and to support Barista Bar in its roll-out across more than 670 locations in the UK with our specially selected decaffeinated coffee, as well as our technical customer support and digital services,” says Ricardo Holland, Global Key Account Manager at Melitta Professional.

Mark Stewart-Maunder, Commercial and Development Director at Henderson Foodservice, also emphasises the importance of the collaboration: “For the relaunch of our self-service ‘Barista Bar’ concept, it was important for us to find a partner that stands for quality, reliability and robust coffee systems. With Melitta Professional, we have deliberately chosen a solution that is perfectly suited to our concept and our requirements.”

Melitta Professional

Passion for coffee enjoyment since 1908. With holistic expertise for coffee, coffee machines, technical service, digital solutions, and financing, Melitta Professional supports its partner companies in the out-of-home market according to their individual needs. Worldwide with 12 national subsidiaries with their own sales and service teams and in more than 50 other countries in cooperation with partners for distribution and service. The company’s customers are represented wherever coffee-to-stay or coffee-to-go in reliable top quality are in demand. The sectors are as diverse as the solutions: Hotel & Gastronomy, Community Gastronomy & Catering, Bakery & Convenience, Café & Coffee Shop, Trade & Specialist Trade, Work & Office. 

Barista Bar

Barista Bar is one of the UK’s leading automated coffee brands and the third-largest provider in the market, with more than 900 self-serve coffee machines installed across retail and forecourt locations nationwide. Part of Henderson Foodservice, Barista Bar delivers premium coffee solutions designed to drive footfall, increase dwell time and grow retailer revenue.