UK Coffee Shop Market Continues to Expand

Last month we were invited to the launch of the Allegra World Coffee Portal, Project Cafe18 UK report.

With the input of over 19,000 people, it’s the definitive report on the state of the UK Coffee Shop market. Over the last 20 years, Allegra have captured in amazing depth and detail the development of the coffee market, their research is now widely acknowledged as the ‘bible’ of the coffee sector.

This years’ report shows that the UK Coffee Shop Market has again expanded, with a 5.3% increase in outlets and 7.3% increase in turnover last year. After 19 years of continued growth, the coffee shop market is one of the most successful in the UK economy.

Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Café Nero remain the UK’s leading brands, owning a 52.9% share of the UK’s branded coffee shop outlets between them. Medium-sized artisan chains such as Coffee#1, Joe & the Juice and Gail’s, along with smaller chains such as Department of Coffee & Social Affairs, Grind & Co and Notes are gaining momentum and driving comparable sales growth across the sector.

The improvement in standards of coffee at-home continues and is increasingly influenced by consumer tastes developed via coffee shop visits. An estimated 12.6 million UK households now own a capsule machine, with 38% using capsule equipment at least once a week.

Allegra predict a new ‘5th Wave’, The Business of Coffee, will be a major force for the global coffee market over the next decade, with the UK coffee market leading the way. The 5th Wave is unashamedly business focused, demonstrating hyper-professionalism, premium design, and scalability of boutique outlets into chains.

The future coffee shop marketplace will be shaped by increased consumer participation and the desire for premium quality coffee anywhere, anytime, driving an improved coffee offer across a broader set of channels.