UK coffee shop market sees biggest period of growth in nearly a decade
According to Mintel research, the UK coffee shop market has seen its biggest period of growth since 2008, when the market was valued at £2.2b.
Two thirds (65%) of all Brits visited a coffee shop in the three months August to October 2016, and coffee shop usage peaks among consumers aged 16-24 (73%).
However, in a space traditionally dominated by specialist coffee retailers, as many as 44% of Brits buy their hot drinks from non-specialists. Overall, just one fifth (19%) of the nation do not drink tea, coffee or other hot drinks out of the home.
When it comes to the environment, almost nine in 10 (87%) coffee drinkers try to dispose of their packaging waste in recycling bins. Around six in 10 (58%) would like coffee shops to offer a discount to customers using their own travel mugs. Furthermore, four in 10 (40%) say they do not mind being charged extra for hot drinks served in 100% recyclable coffee cups, and 30% would prefer to pay for filtered water instead of buying bottled water.
Trish Caddy, foodservice analyst at Mintel, said: "A raft of non-specialist venues that feature barista-style coffee on their menus with takeaway functions are grabbing a slice of the coffee shop market. In the future, the top end of the market will continue to face intense competition from big pub chains, fast-food chains and bakery shops that have now encroached on the coffee shop market, competing in terms of price, convenience and even geographical reach."
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