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.
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Jan- 2019 -22 January
Kyoto’s % Arabica to open first UK site in London
Japanese coffee chain, % Arabica, is set to open its first UK site in London’s Broadway Market. The chain is yet to confirm an opening time, with the majority of its overseas openings done through franchising. Founded by Kenneth Shoji, % Arabica currently operates 30 outlets across 11 countries, with…
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21 January
90-year-old south London toilet becomes cafe
A 90-year-old toilet on Plumstead Common has opened as a new cafe named The Slade Cafe, under the stewardship of former Brick House and Frank’s Cafe chef Kieran Barry. The cafe’s operators say they want to inject “new life into the unused 1930s toilet block”, with support and funding from…
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21 January
Patisserie Valerie future uncertain as talks with bankers continue
The future of embattled cafe chain Patisserie Valerie is still unknown as the company revealed today (Monday 21 January) that it was still in discussions with bankers. Following an investigation by forensic accountants, the company realised its accounts showed signs of “significant manipulation” of the balance sheet and profit and…
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18 January
Lee Ginsburg resigns from Patisserie Valerie board
Lee Ginsburg, non-executive director and deputy chairman of Patisserie Valerie, has resigned from the board just a day after it was revealed that the company’s financial troubles appeared to be in a worse condition than initially thought. He resigned with immediate effect and the company confirmed his departure in a…
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17 January
Patisserie Valerie financial woes worse than expected
Forensic accountants have uncovered “significant manipulation” within Patisserie Valerie’s accounts, suggesting its financial troubles are more extensive than first thought. The company said the work carried out by its forensic accountants since “potentially fraudulent” accounts were discovered in October has revealed that the “misstatement of its accounts was extensive, involving…
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15 January
Island Social Club to open at Curio Cabal
Island Social Club has announced it is to take up a 35-cover permanent residency at exhibition space and coffee shop Curio Cabal, located in London’s Haggerston from 7 February. The Caribbean social club and restaurant will offer 50% off food on the day of its launch at its first permanent…
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15 January
Patisserie Valerie director resigns with immediate effect
James Horler, the non-executive director of crisis hit cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, has resigned from his role with immediate effect. The company confirmed the news and said Horler had stepped down to “focus on his role as chief executive officer at another business”. He has extensive experience in the hospitality…
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11 January
US coffee chain Roasting Plant to open first UK outlet
US coffee chain Roasting Plant is set to open its first UK outlet on 16 January, located between London Bridge and Borough market. The outlet will feature the chain’s ‘Javabot’ tubes for preparing coffee without a barista. The tubes fire coffee beans through plastic tubes to a roaster through to…
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9 January
Greggs reports a ‘strong finish’ to 2018
High street bakery Greggs said it had a “strong finish” to 2018 as it reported its total sales for the year were up by 7.2% for the 52 weeks ended 29 December 2018. This follows a year of “significant strategic progress” where the company saw 149 new shops opened in…
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7 January
Whitbread’s Costa sale to Coca-Cola given green light
Whitbread’s sale of Costa to Coca-Cola has been cleared by the EU, the clearance means the £3.9bn deal is expected to be completed this month. The sale of Costa will see a £500m share buyback programme triggered which will see “a significant majority of the net proceeds to shareholders”. The…
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