Cibo Espresso
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Adelaide-founded chain of Italian-style cafés.
Cibo Espresso can't show that the people who grow its coffee in Indonesia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 5
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its coffee is grown in Indonesia, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Cibo Espresso's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
- A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where its coffee is grown
Cibo Espresso says which countries its coffee comes from, but doesn't name the farms or co-operatives.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Papua New Guinea | We don't have labour ratings for this country yet. | ||
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: coffee is on the US Department of Labor child or forced labour list for over a dozen countries, and farm-gate prices often fall below a living income.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Cibo says its coffee is roasted in Thebarton, South Australia, by roaster Tony D'Angelo, from beans sourced from Brazil, New Guinea and Indonesia, with no split given; it mentions certifications such as UTZ and Rainforest Alliance but does not say how much of its coffee is certified. Owner Retail Food Group covers Cibo in its modern slavery statement but does not name it or report farm audits, wage data or labour problems for it. Stores are being converted to Gloria Jean's.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Parent Retail Food Group lodges annual modern slavery statements for the group and its subsidiaries (latest FY25); Cibo is not named. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- CIBO to become Gloria Jean's in multi-million-dollar deal (InDaily, 2024) · search the archive · RFG bought 100% of CIBO Espresso from Retail Zoo for $2.7m in 2024; 22 outlets to become Gloria Jean's
- Retail Food Group FY26 Results Presentation (August 2026) · search the archive · CIBO company stores still included in FY26 group revenue
Published by Cibo Espresso or its owner
- Retail Food Group Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · Covers RFG and subsidiaries; group green coffee origins; Cibo not named
- Locally roasted, locally loved – CIBO Espresso · search the archive · CIBO beans sourced from Brazil, New Guinea and Indonesia; roasted by Tony D'Angelo; mentions UTZ and Rainforest Alliance
- The art of a perfect CIBO espresso · search the archive · Beans roasted locally in Thebarton, South Australia, by roaster Tony D'Angelo
Company details
- Owned by
- Retail Food Group Limited
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Cibo Espresso ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/cibo-espresso, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Cibo Espresso.