The UK-based coffee chain will use the local market knowledge of its Karachi-based UK franchisee Gerry’s Group to launch at least two stores in Pakistan, the first of which it expects to open before the end of 2022
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The first Costa Coffee store will open in Lahore this month ahead of a second site launch in Karachi next year | Photo credit: Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is partnering with its current UK franchisee Gerry’s Group to launch in Pakistan.
The first Costa Coffee store will open in Lahore this month at the DHA Lahore Phase 6 Raya commercial centre. Gerry’s Group will then launch a second site in Karachi next year.
The announcement follows recent Costa Coffee market entries in Georgia and Morocco, with a first Costa Coffee store in Austria also set to open early next year.
“We are truly delighted to be partnering with Gerry’s Group in bringing Costa Coffee to Pakistan. Coffee lovers in Pakistan can now enjoy a great cup of coffee, one that’s captured the heart of our coffee fans in the UK and globally for the past 51 years. We are eager to serve more cups of great coffee, to more people, more often in this beautiful country of Pakistan,” said Vinay Nair, Head of Emerging Markets, Costa Coffee.
Gerry’s Group has been a Costa Coffee franchise partner since 2005, when its Gerry's Offshore UK subsidiary opened a Costa Coffee outlet in Kent, UK. As of August 2020, Gerry’s Offshore UK operated 57 Costa stores across the UK.
Gerry's Group already operates in Pakistan’s aviation industry handling marketing, ticketing and human resource management for 11 international airlines in the country. However, the Costa Coffee partnership marks Gerry’s first foray into Pakistan’s branded coffee shop market.
“The move is part of our strategy at Gerry’s Group to pour optimism into Pakistan’s food and beverage market. We believe in the uplifting power of a great cup of coffee. It connects people and creates shared moments of joy. We are excited to bring Costa Coffee and our delightful food menu to Pakistan’s vibrant community of coffee fans,” said Akram Wali Muhammad, Managing Director, Gerry’s Group.
Costa Coffee is currently present in 41 countries globally, operating around 2,800 coffee shops in the UK & Ireland and more than 1,100 in other international markets.
Other international chains present in Pakistan include the UAE’s Coffee Planet, Australian-American brands Gloria Jean’s and McCafé and US chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
In May 2022 Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons announced plans to open dozens of new outlets across Pakistan in the coming years, with a first site in Lahore to open in 2022.