Starbucks announces plans to open over 100 new UK coffee shops
Starbucks is to open 100 new coffee shops across the UK as the country’s appetite for coffees continues to grow despite the gloomy economic outlook.
The coffee shop chain said on Monday that its UK sales jumped 37% last year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels as shoppers and workers returned to town centres and offices after COVID-19, and as the group opened up new “drive thrus”.
Starbucks added that it has been “very encouraged by the performance” of its licensed and franchise stores and expects more to open over the current financial year as part of its growth strategy.
It opened 30 company-operated stores over the year to October and closed nine sites. It said it also increased its number of licensed and franchisee stores by 45.
About 30 million pounds would be invested in Britain this year, said Starbucks, to fund the opening of the new outlets and renovate the existing estate of over 1,000 shops.
Starbucks expects “growth momentum” to continue said Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa in a statement, although he added he was cautious on the macro-economic environment.
The new stores will include more smaller format stores and drive-thrus, said Starbucks.
