Costa Coffee expands franchise network across North West England

Global coffee franchise Costa Coffee has opened three new stores in the Merseyside area following a £1m investment by Yorkshire Bank into existing franchisee Optimum Coffee Group.

Optimum, who has been a franchisee of the coffee chain for seven years, will be opening the new outlets in St Paul’s Square and Allerton in Liverpool as well as Sale in Manchester.

It claims the expansion will increase its £6m turnover by £1m and will create over 50 new jobs.

Running 17 Costa stores across the Merseyside area, the new sites follow the franchisee’s aim to open further outlets in the region over the next year.

Launched in 1971, Costa now has 1,300 stores across the UK with continual plans for expansion. The coffee brand is looking to grow its market presence with corporate and international franchising opportunities available.

Managing director of Optimum, Mark Bryan commented on the opening:

“Our strategic objective is to become the country’s largest Costa Coffee franchisee in the next five years.

“Our group has seen total sales increase by 28% in 2012/13 due to organic growth, and we are confident in our strategy to take the business to even higher levels.”

Mike Scott, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Liverpool Banking Centre added:

“The branded coffee retail sector continues to present significant opportunities for further profitable growth and the bank was keen to help Optimum take another major step along the route to sustainable expansion.”

To find out more about Costa’s franchise opportunities, click here.