Kimbo il Caffè Di Napoli Serves Up 2026 Sponsorship of Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
NORWALK, CT/ROCHESTER, NY – Kimbo il Caffè di Napoli, the iconic Italian coffee brand distributed in over 100 countries, has significantly expanded its U.S. cultural marketing strategy through an elevated partnership with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), becoming Season Sponsor and Official Coffee in a deal that extends the brand’s presence from four to over 60 concerts annually.
The expansive agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2026, represents a notable example of international food and beverage brands investing in American cultural partnerships as part of their market penetration strategies, going beyond traditional channels to build brand affinity through creative brand association and experiential marketing.
Since establishing Kimbo USA Corp. in 2021, the Neapolitan coffee company has pursued an aggressive U.S. expansion, gaining distribution in key markets including Florida, New York, Illinois and California. The company’s approach combines traditional retail partnerships with high-visibility experiential activations, including recent presence at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025. Kimbo first partnered with the RPO in 2024 through a four-concert Sunday Matinees series, where pre-concert tastings of Kimbo quickly became a valued part of the concert experience.
“Kimbo Coffee’s continued growth in the U.S. is about more than entering new markets—it’s about embedding Italian culture into everyday American life,” said Kimbo VP of Sales Richard McCarson. “By deepening our partnership with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Kimbo connects premium Neapolitan coffee with the universal language of music, creating an emotional, cultural bridge that builds brand affinity, community trust, and long-term presence in the American market.”
The RPO has recently attracted national media coverage through milestones including a sold-out arena show during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, its ongoing Voices of Today commissioning and recording initiative, and collaboration with CBS Sports’ coverage of the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill. With Rochester ranked as one of America’s most arts-vibrant cities (#15 in a 2025 SMU DataArts report), the orchestra harnesses a passionate regional audience as the base for national impact. RPO’s 2026 performance calendar includes concerts with world-class classical artists including Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, and Adele Anthony.
“Rochesterians know that our region punches above its weight in arts and culture, and the RPO is proud to be at the heart of this community.” said RPO President & CEO Curt Long. “American orchestras have cultivated excellent platforms for reaching culturally-engaged audiences, platforms that only continue to grow as the RPO and peers find new and creative ways to reach audiences at home and across the country.”
For the orchestral sector, such partnerships offer crucial operating support at a time when many institutions are navigating significant post-pandemic changes in audience and donor behavior. For brands such as Kimbo, they provide access to high-value consumer segments and experiential touchpoints that complement traditional retail strategies.
The partnership aligns with Kimbo’s brand positioning around “hospitality as culture” and artisanal craft – bringing “A Cup of Naples” to consumers worldwide. Initial activations, including coffee service at select performances and donor receptions, demonstrated strong patron engagement and provided proof-of-concept for the expanded relationship.
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Kimbo, a brand our patrons have quickly come to love,” said RPO Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Bryce Davis. “We are proud of the quality, artistry, and craftsmanship that our artists bring to the table – and our audiences immediately recognized these same characteristics in Kimbo’s coffee.”
Media Contact for RPO: Mike Cidoni, PR & Communications Manager, mcidoni@rpo.org, 323.434.8627
KIMBO Contact for RPO: Bryce Davis, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, bdavis@rpo.org, 585.808.2427
