Costa coffee sets sights on 2,000 shops

Irish Examiner

UK Coffee shop owner Costa today said it planned to triple the number of outlets in the chain within the next three years.

Managers at the Whitbread-owned brand are plotting to expand the group’s portfolio from 650 to 2,000 shops in the UK and overseas by 2010.

In April, the company said it planned to have 1,000 outlets, but revised the target after enjoying a “remarkable period of growth”.

Most of the planned new stores will be opened overseas, although Costa also hopes to expand its UK chain from 497 shops to 800 over the next three years.

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