UK leads Europe as market for branded coffee

The UK now has more branded coffee bars than anywhere else in Europe, according to new research.

A study into the European coffee market by Allegra Strategies found that more than 2,650 sites - 48% of total UK outlets - were branded operations as of December last year.

Now valued at £1.1b, the UK branded coffee market is set to grow by 8.9% per year, according to the research.

Costa, Starbucks and Caffè Nero were responsible for most sector openings, with Pret A Manger and Eat the key performers in the food-focused segment of the market.

In Continental Europe, France, Italy and Belgium remain underdeveloped, with the public sticking to their traditional coffee-drinking habits.

But other countries, including Germany, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, are poised for substantial growth, the report predicted.

The study found the key European players were Starbucks Coffee, Costa Coffee, Segafredo Zanetti, Caffè Ritazza, Caffè Nero and Café Nescafé.