COSTA OPENS 1000TH INTERNATIONAL STORE IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

COSTA OPENS 1000^TH INTERNATIONAL STORE IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Costa, the UK’s favourite coffee shop, announces the opening of its 1000^th international store located in Bangkok, making it the first ever Costa store in Thailand.

Costa is already present in 29 countries outside of the UK and is the world’s second largest coffee shop chain.

In the past five years, Costa has grown rapidly, opening on average 150 international stores every year.  In 2006 it opened its first store in China where it now has approaching 300 stores and has extended its reach further into South East Asia with stores in Singapore and Cambodia.

Christopher Rogers, MD of Costa said, “This is an important milestone on Costa’s journey to become the world’s most loved coffee brand.  Thailand is our third territory in South East Asia and we have been delighted by the warm welcome the Costa brand has received in this part of the world.”

South East Asia is one of the largest coffee growing regions in the world and Thailand is seen as one of the biggest markets in the region.  Traditionally a tea drinking nation, there is an emerging coffee culture in Thailand and Costa look forward to bringing quality handcrafted coffee to more people every day through the Costa experience.

As well as serving a range of coffees, such as the Cappuccino and Flat White, all made using Costa's unique Mocha Italia blend, the Bangkok store will offer local delights such as the Green Tea Cooler and Hoisin Duck Wrap.

Costa continues to grow in to new markets integrating local tastes and preference, in order to continually deliver an unbeatable coffee experience to customers across the world.

The franchise partner for Costa Thailand is the RMA Group.

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For further information please contact:

Costa Press Office

Telephone: 0207 908 6509

Email:  costapress@lexisagency.com

About Costa:

The UK’s favourite coffee shop^*

Costa is the UK’s favourite coffee shop, having been awarded “Best Branded Coffee Shop Chain in the UK and Ireland" by Allegra Strategies for three  years running ( 2010 , 2011 & November 2012).

Winner of “Best Branded Coffee Chain in Europe” Allegra Strategies  2011 and 2012.

Costa, voted the UK's favourite coffee shop, is the UK’s largest coffee shop chain with over 1600 stores and 3,000 Costa Express machines.  It is also the world’s second largest coffee shop chain in 28 countries worldwide. Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa’s performance goes from strength to strength and the brand has been instrumental in driving innovation in the sector, including the introduction of Flat White and the launch of Costa Express Just 1% of the world’s production of coffee is good enough for us to choose from. Only the very best 100% RFA certified coffee available can go into creating the unique taste and aroma of our Mocha Italia blend.

Costa is committed to looking after our coffee-growers. That's why we've established The Costa Foundation, a registered charity. The Foundation's aims are to relieve poverty, advance education and the health and environment of coffee-growing communities around the world. So far, we have funded the building of 32 schools and improved the social and economic welfare of coffee-growing communities.