Starbucks to open 100 new UK stores this year as part of £30million investment

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Starbucks is to open 100 new UK stores (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Starbucks is to open 100 new UK stores (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Starbucks has announced plans to open 100 new stores across the UK over the next year.

As well as opening new branches, Starbucks will also refurbish and upgrade existing sites over the next three years.

The coffee chain is set to invest a whopping £30million in the UK - just months after reports suggested it was considering selling the business.

Starbucks launched in the UK in 1998 and currently has over 1,000 outlets in the country.

The business today announced that its UK sales increased by 37% to £449million last year as it bounced back from the pandemic.

Greggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report qhiqquiqqrikrinvGreggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report

However, pre-tax profits dropped by a fifth to £10.4million due to higher energy costs, wage increases and supplier costs.

Starbucks couldn’t confirm a list of where it plans to open new sites, but said locations would be spread across the UK.

Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks in the UK, Europe and Middle East, said the firm also planned to open 300 new stores in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He said: “Whilst we are cautious about the macro-economic environment, we will continue to invest to grow the region this year.

“We plan to open over 100 new stores in the UK and 300 new stores in EMEA, to continue this growth momentum.”

About 70% of Starbucks UK shops are run as franchises, with the remainder owned by the company.

Starbucks said the new stores would be a mixture of both.

The firm denied it had ever begun a formal sales process after reports last summer suggested it was exploring a potential sale of its UK business.

Like many UK sectors, the hospitality industry and its staff have been hard-hit by the cost of living crisis.

Costa Coffee today said it will increase hourly wages for 16,000 workers by up to 7.3% from this April.

Costa Coffee cappuccino has four times the amount of caffeine as a Red BullCosta Coffee cappuccino has four times the amount of caffeine as a Red Bull

Base pay rates for Costa baristas will increase from £10 an hour to at least £10.70.

More experienced Barista Maestros will see hourly pay rise from £10.53 an hour to at least £11.23, depending on location and role.

Pret A Manger last week also confirmed it will give workers their third pay rise in 12 months.

The sandwich and coffee chain is to hike pay for team members from £10.30 to £10.60, or from £11.55 to £11.90, depending on location.

Barista pay will increase from between £10.85 to £11.20, or £12.50 to £12.85, again depending on location and experience.

Levi Winchester

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