The travel retailer became the UK coffee chain’s master franchisee in Poland in February 2023 and is planning a return to outlet growth after closing underperforming stores
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A co-located Costa Coffee and Klub Fikołki site at the Focus Mall in Piotrków | Photo credit: Lagardère Travel Retail
Lagardère Travel Retail has launched a sub-franchise programme to accelerate outlet expansion for its licensed Costa Coffee business in Poland.
The global travel retailer became Costa Coffee’s master franchisee in Poland and Latvia in February 2023, taking control of the UK-based coffee chain’s 142 stores across the two European countries. Following the closure of underperforming sites, Lagardère Travel Retail now operates 115 stores in Poland and 10 outlets in Latvia.
In a press release, Paris-based Lagardère said it will lean on experience gained from franchising its proprietary So! Coffee coffee chain in Poland to scale Costa Coffee. The first new sub-franchisee-run Costa Coffee outlet in Poland opened at the end of February 2025 at the Focus Mall in Piotrków, co-located with kid’s soft play chain Klub Fikołki.
Agreements for a further three sub-franchised Costa Coffee outlets have already been signed, including a second dual-branded store with Klub Fikołki in Bydgoszcz.
“Entering the sub-franchising sector means opening a new chapter in the development of Costa Coffee – new opportunities for expansion and potential partnerships. Over the years of experience gained in developing the So! Coffee franchise, we have developed an effective strategy that combines support and franchisee autonomy,” said Maciej Gajkowski, Managing Director Foodservice, Lagardère Travel Retail Poland.
Lagardère Travel Retail also operates licensed Costa Coffee stores in the Czech Republic, Austria and Belgium. The travel retailer achieved 15.8% year-on-year sales growth in the 12 months ended 31 December 2024 to reach €5.8bn ($6bn), with annual EBITA rising 7% to €258m ($270m). Its full foodservice portfolio comprises over 1,600 proprietary and licensed outlets in 250 airports and train stations across 30 markets.