EUROPE 30th November 2010

Despite the economic downturn, the number of branded coffee shops in Europe is set to increase 6.3% through 2013, a report by UK-based market analysts Allegra Strategies said in mid-November.

The Project Café 10 Europe report said that there would be over 13,000 branded coffee outlets in Europe in three years' time, following a 4.6% increase this year that brought the total to 10,951 shops in October 2010.

The UK has the most developed market, Allegra said, with 4,498 outlets (or 41% of the total European branded sector), while the markets in both Germany and Spain are also well established.

Even these established markets are continuing to grow, according to Allegra's Jeffrey Young, while in less mature markets, like France, Austria and Poland, consumers were leaving their traditional coffee drinking habits in favour of new espresso-based drinks, he said.