Starbucks plans to open 100 stores in UK

Starbucks is set to open 100 new stores in the UK this year, as sales had a 37 percent increase during recovery from the COVID pandemic, the coffee chain announced on Monday.

The chain is planning to invest £30 million in Britain this year to fund the opening of the new shops and renovate the 1,000 pre-existing shops, after previously planning to sell its British business.

Starbucks UK expansion faces the challenges of the country’s inflationary economy, as the cost of ingredients, energy bills and demand from staff for higher wage keep rising.

The coffee chain expects growth momentum to continue, but will still be cautious about the current economic state, stated Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The new stores will have drive-thru and smaller format stores, in order to meet customers’ demands, some of them will be run as franchises, and others owned by the company.

Starbucks, which has been operating in the UK since 1998, reported UK revenues of £449.3 million in October 2022, the chain is also planning to open new stores in the EMEA region.