Whitbread's Costa Coffee brand retained the lead it took from Starbucks last year to remain the UK's largest coffee shop group with 750 outlets.
Costa Coffee has added some 150 new outlets since last year while Starbucks expanded its estate by 101 new venues to end with 650.
The third largest brand, Caffè Nero, has grown by 68 venues to total 360.
These facts and figures are reported in British Hospitality: Trends and Statistics 2008, published by the British Hospitality Association.
The full report (which is free to BHA members) can be bought for £250 (for the printed version) or £200 (for a PDF file). Prices are progressively discounted as the year moves on. For enquiries or orders, phone 0207 404 7744 or contact bob.bacon@bha.org.uk.
View the top coffee shop groups from the 2007 report >>
View the top coffee shop groups from the 2006 report >>
THE LEADING COFFEE SHOP GROUPS IN THE UK, 2008
Source: Horizons/Wordsmith & Company
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