FairWave Acquires Fiddleheads Coffee Roasters, Expands Midwest Footprint

FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective, a Kansas City–based multi-brand coffee group backed by private equity firm Great Range Capital, announced the acquisition of Fiddleheads Coffee Roasters on January 5, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. Fiddleheads, known regionally for its cafes and in-house roasting, joins a portfolio that already includes Anodyne and Messenger Coffee brands among others.

FairWave said it intends to preserve Fiddleheads’ identity while pursuing a shared-services approach across its holdings rather than merging brands into a single label. As part of operational planning, the company indicated roasting capacity may be consolidated regionally, a move designed to increase efficiency and scale but one that could change where beans are roasted and how roast profiles are managed.

This deal matters for independent roasters, baristas, suppliers, and coffee communities. Roll-up groups and collectives have been using shared infrastructure to scale small regional roasters for several years, and this acquisition reinforces that model. Shared services can lower costs, centralize logistics, and expand purchasing power, which may help a small brand survive and grow. At the same time, consolidation raises practical concerns for customers and cafe staff: potential changes to employment, shifts in roast origin or profile if production moves to a regional facility, and the preservation of local brand character.

For people who buy, work at, or partner with Fiddleheads, there are concrete things to watch for in the coming months. Check with your local Fiddleheads cafe about staffing and whether existing employees will stay in place. Watch packaging and signage for roast date and roast location information; a change in roasting site can affect flavor consistency. Expect the Fiddleheads name and storefronts to remain in place for now, but monitor menus, loyalty programs, and sourcing disclosures for updates.

The acquisition highlights a continuing tension in specialty coffee between the efficiencies private-equity-backed collectives can provide and the desire of local communities to protect distinct roaster identities and jobs. I will keep reporting on operational changes, staffing, and any shifts in roasting as details emerge.