Costa Coffee was established in London in 1971 by Sergio and Bruno Costa as a wholesale business providing roasted coffee to coffee shops and caterers. In 1978, they inaugurated their first store in London, which led to swift expansion. The background of coffee in Latin America plays a significant role in this story.
Costa Coffee has expanded its smoking ban to cover all 370 locations in the UK. The aim is to prioritize the well-being of both customers and employees. Previously, smoking had already been prohibited in 90% of Costa Coffee shops. Mark Phillips, the managing director, highlights the importance of this decision given the common association between cigarette smoking and coffee breaks.
Costa Coffee, the first coffee chain in the UK, intends to transition to sustainably grown beans from certified suppliers. The company aims to execute this strategy within the next year and acquire at least 30% of its coffee from sustainable sources. For additional information, please visit the Rainforest Alliance website or consult an article published in the Telegraph.
Costa Coffee aims to enhance its environmental reputation by transitioning all of its coffee supply to eco-friendly beans. By the year 2010, the company intends to replace the coffee supply in its 1,000 stores worldwide with sustainably grown beans obtained from coffee suppliers certified by Rainforest Alliance.
The move comes after McDonald’s decided to switch from Tetley tea to PG Tips, a more environmentally friendly product. McDonald’s also changed its coffee supply to Rainforest Alliance products in January 2021, resulting in a 22% increase in sales. Costa, the UK’s largest coffee shop chain and owned by Whitbread, will begin making the switch this year. Their goal is to obtain 30% of their coffee beans, roughly 1,000 tonnes annually, from Rainforest Alliance-certified suppliers by September.
The Rainforest Alliance is an NGO that seeks to promote sustainability through changing consumer behavior, land use, and business practices. Despite being a small market, the ethical goods industry in the UK is experiencing rapid growth. In the past year, companies reported selling £4.8 billion worth of ethical food and drink, which marks a 17% increase from 2006.
Opportunity Costa Coffee is set to unveil its first Metropolitan Store in London, England, United Kingdom (UK) next week. The company aims to attract urban professionals to its coffee shops by incorporating innovative designs into its latest outlets. The main emphasis of the Costa Coffee Metropolitan stores will be on providing fast service for time-strapped city workers, with express checkout lanes available. Additionally, Costa Coffee has announced that the shop interiors will showcase a minimalist aesthetic, featuring materials like glass, stone, and timber. Notably, the walls will showcase exposed brickwork as a distinctive feature.
Costa Coffee is redesigning its stores to mirror the trendy and nostalgic aesthetic found in many Starbucks locations. This new look is a result of consumer research, which revealed that urban customers desired quick service when on the go, but also desired a comfortable and laid-back environment with separate seating areas. The initial store will debut on Great Portland Street, with plans to expand to other English cities including Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham.
