Swiss-based food giant Nestlé will pay Starbucks $7.15 billion in cash for the rights to sell the US coffee chain’s products around the world in a global alliance aimed at reinvigorating their coffee empires.

The deal for a business with $2 billion in sales reinforces Nestlé’s position, as the world’s biggest coffee company tries to fortify its place atop a fast-changing market. Seattle-based Starbucks said it will use proceeds to speed-up share buybacks, and the deal would add to earnings per share (EPS) by 2021 at the latest.

Nestlé said it expects the deal to sell Starbucks bagged coffee and drinks adding to earnings by 2019. It will not involve any of Starbucks’ cafes.

Nestlé and Starbucks are joining forces in a highly fragmented consumer drinks category that has seen a string of deals lately.

JAB Holdings, the private investment firm of Europe’s billionaire Reimann family, has fuelled the consolidation wave with a series of deals, including Douwe Egberts, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Keurig Green Mountain, narrowing the gap with Nestlé.

“This global coffee alliance will bring the Starbucks experience to the homes of millions more around the world through the reach and reputation of Nestlé,” said Starbucks chief executive Kevin Johnson.

Coffee is popular with younger customers who have grown up with Starbucks and often seek out smaller brands. A willingness to pay up for exotic beans and speciality drinks means companies can brew up richer profit margins than in mainstream packaged food. Starbucks said it now expects to return $20bn in cash to shareholders in the form of share buybacks and dividends through fiscal year 2020.