UK leads the way in Europe for coffee as chains grow at unprecedented rate

Branded coffee chains continue to grow in the land of tea drinkers with 643 outlets opening in 2017

‘The UK is the most developed market and remains the model for the branded coffee shop industry’ (Shutterstock)

The UK led growth in branded coffee shops in Europe for a third straight year amid an expansion of chains from Starbucks to Costa Coffee.

The number of outlets in the UK grew by 643 to 7,421 in 2017, according to market researcher Allegra Strategies. The country drove net outlet increases in Europe, followed by Turkey, Russia and Greece, the company said in a summary of its annual report.

The UK has been a leading market for branded coffee shops in Europe since Allegra’s data began in 2010. And 21 out of 25 countries surveyed in Europe saw expansion in their market this year, the researcher said.

“The UK is the most developed market and remains the model for the branded coffee shop industry,” Allegra said.

There were 22,714 coffee-shop outlets in Europe in October, up 6.4 per cent in 2017. In percentage terms, Romania had the strongest growth, expanding 30 per cent, with Poland the next fastest. In contrast, Spain, Bulgaria and Austria had the largest net contractions.

“Despite a sustained period of political uncertainty, consumer confidence is relatively stable and out-of-home coffee consumption is increasing,” Allegra said.

Costa is the largest chain in Europe, followed by Starbucks.

“Allegra anticipates the market growth to continue at a steady rate with key opportunities lying in countries where international chains are influencing the expansion of domestic brands,” the company said.

Bloomberg