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.

Jan- 2022 -

14 January

Caffè Nero secures growth opportunities amid £85m loan

Caffe Nero has announced new growth opportunities after a six-year loan of approximately £85m was agreed with Carlyle, HSBC and Santander. The firm also revealed a loan of £330m was agreed by the banks in order to refinance the brands debt with majority ownership of the group remaining with Gerry…
Read More »
13 January

Pret A Manger to increase staff pay with £9.2m investment

Pret A Manger has announced plans to invest over £9.2m in staff pay, its “biggest” pay and benefits increase in its 36-year history. From 1 April 2022, 8,000 UK team members will see their pay increase from a baseline of £9.40-9.56, to up to £10.15 per hour, with more than…
Read More »
Dec- 2021 -

21 December

Greggs tops food to go brand report

Gregg’s has taken the lead as the “dominating brand” in the food to go sector (FTG) with a 10.7% share of occasions, according to the Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2021. The report reveals Greggs has overtaken McDonald’s with a 1.3% increase in share of occasions in…
Read More »
7 December

Pret to trial first loyalty scheme

Pret a Manger has announced it will be trialling its first ever loyalty programme called ‘Pret Perks’, described by the company as the “next step in Pret’s omnichannel transformation”. Pret Perks will be available to Pret’s Coffee Subscription customers through their Pret A Manger digital accounts on the iOS app…
Read More »
1 December

Benugo introduces 100% carbon neutral coffee menu

Benugo has announced a new 100% carbon neutral coffee menu in collaboration with ClimatePartner across all its outlets. Launching 1 December, an illustrated coffee menu will “let customers see the carbon footprint associated with their choice of hot drink”, including flat white, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and hot chocolate, allowing them…
Read More »
1 December

Pret A Manger announces new UK franchise partners

Pret A Manger has announced that Dallas Holdings and K&Z Group will become the chain’s next franchisees in the UK. A total of eight stores will be transferred to the new franchise partners in spring 2022. Pret’s Guildford, Bournemouth, Basingstoke and Woking shops will be transferred to K&Z Holdings, and…
Read More »
Nov- 2021 -

12 November

Local investor acquires Woody’s Vegetarian Café in Hemel Hempstead

Woodys Vegetarian Café in Hemel Hempstead has been sold to a local investor, who plans to reopen the site as a new bistro/café concept. Located in Dickinson Quay, two miles away from the centre of Hemel Hempstead, the restaurant features views of the marina and canal, which was a key…
Read More »
Oct- 2021 -

20 October

Caffè Nero reports strong trading recovery

Caffè Nero has announced a sales increase of 160% from January 2021 to October 2021. According to the brand, throughout the pandemic it has continued to “develop and improve” its ‘coffee at home’ business and has recently established retail partnerships with Amazon, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to carry its coffee range.…
Read More »
13 October

CrepeAffaire to open 10 UK sites

CrepeAffaire, the European fast casual crepe café group, has announced its plans to open 10 UK sites amongst the development of 50 new stores over the coming 24-36 months. It revealed the company is also on track to expand its international portfolio by 10 additional units by the end of…
Read More »
6 October

Lantana opens fourth venture in London

Independent restaurant group Lantana has announced the opening of its fourth venture cafe DL/78 in central London. Café DL/78 is situated in Derwent London’s space in Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, and is in close proximity to Soho Square and the theatre district. Taking inspiration from its Australian heritage, the new cafe…
Read More »