The UK’s largest coffee chain is seeking to enhance its on-the-go coffee offering after opening its 300th drive-thru store in its domestic market
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Costa Coffee remains on course to open 100 new stores this year, including 60 new drive-thrus | Photo credit: Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee has launched its 300th drive-thru store in the UK and committed £20m ($24m) to expand its drive-thru presence in the country over the next three years.
Upon announcing the milestone location in Sunderland, Costa Coffee confirmed plans to operate over 500 drive-thru stores by 2025 as part of an effort to capitalise on a developing on-the-go coffee market in the UK.
Highlighting the commercial potential of the drive-thru format, 57% of UK consumers surveyed by World Coffee Portal in 2021 said they would purchase beverages from a drive-thru if the facility were more readily available.
Costa Coffee and its franchise partners remain on course to open 100 new stores this year, including 60 new drive-thrus. Additionally, the company is installing 1,000 Costa Express machines, including a recently upgraded self-serve machine offering both hot and iced beverages, as it seeks to reach new customers.
“As we continue to invest and grow after the pandemic, it is the perfect moment to be celebrating the opening of our 300th drive-thru store. We know that drive-thrus continue to prove popular with consumers as the nation gets moving again. With over 10 years and 300 stores of experience under our belts, we look forward to continuing to delight coffee fans when they’re out and about across the UK,” said Adrian Cook, UK&I Chief Operating Officer, Costa Coffee.
Costa Coffee is Europe’s largest coffee chain, operating nearly 2,800 coffee shops in the UK and Ireland, and over 1,100 globally. It also operates more than 12,000 Costa Express self-serve units in the UK.
Shakir Moin has undertaken the role of Costa Coffee Interim CEO after Jill McDonald, who had been CEO of the coffee chain since 2019, stepped down at the end of July to join US fast-food chain McDonald’s as Executive Vice President and President of International Operated Markets.