Cafes and Coffee Shops

The Cafes and Coffee Shops section on Catering Today explores the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the UK’s vibrant café and coffee sector. Covering independent operators, branded chains, and suppliers, it reports on store openings, menu innovation, sustainability initiatives, and shifts in consumer behaviour. With insights into operations, staffing, and technology, Catering Today provides hospitality professionals with up-to-date intelligence on the business strategies and market forces driving success in coffee-led hospitality.

Oct- 2025 -

30 October

Starbucks returns to sales growth in Q4 amid turnaround plan

Starbucks has reported that global store sales rose 1% in the fourth quarter to 28 September with consolidated revenues rising 5% year-on-year to $9.6bn (£7.5bn), as the group’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan continues. This marks a return to global sales growth for the first time in seven quarters at…
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28 October

KKR in talks to acquire Costa Coffee

American investment giant KKR is reportedly in talks to acquire Costa Coffee, according to Sky News. The publication said the firm has joined a small number of parties currently in talks with The Coca-Cola Company and its advisers at investment bank Lazard regarding a deal. Sky added that KKR’s involvement…
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28 October

Starbucks to close stores across EMEA after portfolio review

Starbucks has announced plans to close an undisclosed number of stores in the UK, Switzerland and Austria following a review of its European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) operations. The company said the closures form part of its ‘Back to Starbucks’ strategy, aimed at refocusing on customer service and ensuring…
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14 October

Caffè Nero Q1 sales hit ‘record’ £166m

Caffè Nero has recorded sales of £166m in the first quarter of its 2025-26 financial year, up 9% on the same period last year, as demand for iced drinks lifted summer trading. The Nero Group, which owns the Caffè Nero brand, reported like-for-like sales growth of 6% for the three…
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13 October

Cornish Bakery launches new workplace mission amid 24% sales rise

Cornish Bakery has launched a new workplace initiative aimed at improving staff development and culture across its UK sites, as it reported a 24% rise in total sales year-on-year. The independent chain of 70 bakeries, which employs more than 800 people, credited its people-first approach for sustained growth and said…
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8 October

Cooks Coffee to open Esquires cafés in Tesco Ireland stores

Cooks Coffee Company has agreed a partnership with Tesco Ireland to open five Esquires cafés in selected Tesco stores by the end of November 2025. The international café group, which owns the Esquires (The Organic Coffee) brand, said the new outlets will be operated by existing franchisees within its Irish…
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2 October

Costa Coffee appoints Colliers as new estates management partner

Costa Coffee has announced that it has appointed Colliers as its estates management partner for its entire UK portfolio of more than 1,600 sites. The five-year agreement will see Colliers provide dedicated support across Costa Coffee’s equity estate. Under the new agreement, Colliers will provide a wide range of services…
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Sep- 2025 -

29 September

Cooks Coffee reports 26.9% rise in UK and Ireland sales

Cooks Coffee Company has reported a 26.9% increase in systemwide sales across its Esquires-branded cafés in the UK and Ireland for the first half of its financial year. For the 26 weeks to 28 September 2025, UK sales were up 26.7% and Ireland sales rose 27.4%. Like-for-like growth also increased…
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26 September

Investor pushes for private equity takeover of SSP Group

An activist investor is reportedly encouraging private equity firms to enter takeover bids for Upper Crust operator SSP Group, after raising its stake in the company. According to The Financial Times, Irenic Capital Management is pushing the move having raised its stake in the food-to-go operator to 3%, up from…
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24 September

Butterwick to shutter 12 of its 14 branches as costs rise

Butterwick, a chain of 14 bakeries, has announced that it will close all but two of its stores, amid rising costs and a slowdown in customer spending. In a post on Facebook, the bakery’s owners, Fiona and Ryan Scarborough, confirmed with “deep regret” that only its Rushden Lakes and Northampton…
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