Itochu Corporation opens Dean & DeLuca shops

Itochu Corporation has acquired the license to use the Dean & DeLuca brand name. The company will open Japanese cafes and food and sundries shops under that name and produce licensed goods. Dean & Deluca's image for high quality foods, kitchenware and gifts is expected to help the shops compete with other American-style cafes such as Starbucks Coffee beginning in summer 2002. New York-based Dean & DeLuca operates 12 shops including cafes which provide coffee and light meals and stores which sell fresh food, bread and kitchenware. Competitors besides Starbucks will include Segafredo Zanetti, operated by a Sumitomo Corporation subsidiary, and Tully's Coffee, an investment of Mitsui & Co.