COSTA COFFEE NAMED THE NATION’S FAVOURITE COFFEE SHOP FOR THE NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Costa Coffee has been voted the ‘Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop’ by Allegra’s independent panel of consumers¹. Demonstrating the affinity for the Costa Coffee brand on UK high streets up and down the country, Costa Coffee has claimed the top coffee shop spot for the ninth year running.

With the UK coffee shop market entering its 20^th consecutive year of growth in 2018, the branded coffee shop segment has continued to outperform in a challenging economic environment.

Growing demand for experience-led hospitality has enabled coffee shops to offset recent challenges on the UK high street. As consumers expand their tastes and refine their coffee knowledge, coffee shops have successfully catered to this growing interest, with Costa Coffee playing a key role in educating customers on a widening array of products and in-store experiences. The ‘Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop’ accolade signifies Costa Coffee’s enduring appeal as a pillar of the UK’s vibrant café community and its status as an integral part of the nation’s daily routine.

Costa Coffee has also been named by consumers as the UK’s most ethical coffee shop². Whether powering its roastery with 100% renewable energy, diverting over 7,000 tonnes of waste from landfill or removing 45 million plastic straws from its 2,600-plus stores, Costa Coffee’s sustainability credentials are impressive. Last year Costa Coffee launched an industry-leading recycling initiative that pays waste management companies to recover and recycle takeaway cups. Over 65 million cups have been recycled since its launch, with other leading coffee and retail brands joining the scheme.

The UK’s favourite also uses 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and supports the Costa Foundation to relieve poverty in coffee-growing communities, meaning customers can be sure their coffee is both kind to the environment and supporting farming communities. The Costa Foundation, a registered charity, was created to improve the lives of children in coffee growing communities by providing access to quality education. To date, the Costa Foundation has funded over 80 school projects and changed the lives of more than 75,000 children. The brand operates a UK-wide Community Programme, which enables and empowers their teams to volunteer their time to support good causes locally and to invite community groups to make use of Costa Coffee shops.

Commenting on the achievement, Costa Coffee Managing Director, UK and Ireland, Jason Cotta, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded as the UK’s favourite coffee shop for the ninth consecutive year. It’s also incredibly rewarding to have been recognised for our sustainability work. This fantastic achievement means a great deal to us, having been voted for by our valued customers. A huge thank you to our talented and dedicated baristas who deliver millions of lovingly handcrafted cups of coffee every year to the nation.”

Allegra founder and CEO, Jeffrey Young, said: “Achieving this accolade for the ninth year running shows Costa Coffee truly resonates with British consumers up and down the country. It is a brand that is very much part of the fabric of British lifestyles and one which has cemented its role as the nation’s second living room.”

Notes

¹ The question ‘what is your favourite coffee shop?’ was asked of an independent panel of 3,121 consumers, with 51.4% citing Costa Coffee as their preferred café.

² An independent panel of 3,121 consumers was given a choice of 100 major UK coffee chains and asked: ‘In your view, which of the following coffee shops is the most ethical?’

Contacts

Tobias Pearce, Press and PR: tpearce@allegra.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7691 8818

Bradley Journeaux, Research Manager: bjourneaux@allegra.co.uk +44 (0)20 7691 8800

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