In a survey of more than 4000 British consumers, Costa Coffee has taken the top spot for the 12th consecutive year to be named the United Kingdom’s favourite coffee shop.
With more than 50 years of coffee heritage behind it, Costa Coffee continues to spearhead market innovation with new store formats, digital integration, and fresh, new products. Last year, Costa Express installed a further 1325 machines and launched its first Costa Express Hot and Iced Drinks machine, the world’s first integrated self-serve coffee machine delivering a range of more than 500 barista-quality hot and iced drinks.
With 57 per cent of UK consumers surveyed open to trying drive-thru, Costa Coffee has been at the forefront of catering to an increased demand for the format. The coffee chain opened 75 new drive-thru sites in 2020, making it the UK market leader by outlets.
Last year, the brand relaunched its Costa Club reward scheme, designed to give members even more rewards each time they visit. Customers can now collect ‘Beans’ towards free drinks, earning double Beans each time they use a reusable cup, making it one of the most competitive and sustainable loyalty schemes available. Via the Costa Coffee app, customers can also receive personalised offers and access their account straight from a mobile device.
2021 also saw Costa Coffee announce a new food offering with Marks & Spencer to introduce an even greater range of quality food. Building on Costa Coffee’s much-loved food range, Costa Coffee Now Serving M&S will supply a range of M&S Food, including its iconic range of fresh sandwiches and salads alongside vegan-friendly and gluten free Plant Kitchen and Made Without products. The range will be available in more than 2,500 Costa Coffee stores and drive-thru locations in the UK.
Costa Coffee has continued its ongoing mission to improve the sustainability of its cups, reduce packaging waste and look after the planet. In 2021 Costa Coffee launched the trial of a new blockchain technology-powered reusable cup scheme called BURT (Borrow, Use, Reuse, Take Back). Live in selected stores in Glasgow, the trial hopes to shift consumer behaviour towards reusing coffee cups. Meanwhile, Costa continues to release innovative reusable products, including on-the- go reusable cups and water bottles, the latest in partnership with Aero.
Playing its part to help the UK meet its Net Zero emissions target, Costa Coffee has also teamed up with InstaVolt to install rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points at select drive-thru sites across the UK.
“We are thrilled to have been voted the Nation’s Favourite coffee shop for the twelfth consecutive year. We continue to emerge stronger from the pandemic thanks to the hard work of our talented baristas and the ongoing support of our franchisees, partners, and suppliers and all our Costa Coffee colleagues around the UK,” says Adrian Cook, Interim UK&I Managing Director, on the World Coffee Portal survey.
“In 2021 we celebrated our 50th Birthday with our customers, launching some incredible special offers, including 50p coffee days across our stores, Express machines, and at-home and FMCG range. Over the last twelve months we have invested heavily in our UK business, including our store propositions and Express machines as well as launching innovative new drinks ranges and announcing Costa Coffee Now Serving M&S Food, which launches in Spring 2022.
“We are incredibly grateful to the support of our customers and for the role they allow us to play within their day-to-day lives and communities. Our whole team are excited for another fantastic year in 2022 – serving more cups of great coffee, to more people, more often.”
