Latest news with #CostaCoffee
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK seaside resort with white beach is full of charm but hardly any tourists
Designed to look like a Cornish village, this quaint seaside resort boasts rows of whitewashed cottages and a 3.4-mile beach - but is actually 581 miles from the UK's tourist-riddled south coast A quaint seaside resort 'steeped in character' looks like something straight out of a story book, but has incredibly managed to dodge the tourist limelight. Built in 1912, and designed to look exactly like a charming Cornish village, this tiny parish features rows of whitewashed cottages and a 3.4-mile stretch of sugar-like sands - all of which is surrounded by seemingly endless countryside. But this coastal gem is almost 600 miles from England's insufferably busy south coast, and is actually situated on the idyllic Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland. Nestled at the mouth of the River Dun, and part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, lies the criminally underrated village of Cushendun. Here, you won't find your typical rows of flashing arcades, swathes of fish and chip shops, or dominating Costa Coffee shops. Instead, you'll be greeted by an often-empty beach, breathtakingly beautiful scenery, and a fascinating history. With 30 miles of lush landscape at your doorstep, Cushendun is the perfect place for those wanting to escape the bustling city and get back into nature. Check out the Glens Great Grassland Trail, which winds through stunning meadowland, beaches, and through the heart of the village. For history lovers, checking out the sandstone church, which has been around since 1840, is a must. Today, it operates as a community-run arts and heritage centre which puts on a variety of performances and events throughout the year. Outside in the churchyard, you'll be able to see Ronald John McNeill's grave. This man, otherwise known as Baron Cushendun, actually built the village for his wife, Maud. Cushendun is also one of the best places in Northern Ireland to spot rare red squirrels - making it a haven for nature lovers. "While we can't guarantee a sighting, you're most likely to encounter them early in the morning or late afternoon, in the forest beside Glenmona House, where the Glens Red Squirrel Group has built an activity playground," explains the National Trust. And lastly, if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, you need to head to the beach and find the Red Caves - which were used as a film location for the cult-series. On TripAdvisor, Cushendun's beach has received a plethora of raving reviews - with many highlighting the lack of crowds compared to some of the nearby coastal towns. "I accidentally visited this beach when I took the scenic route on [my travels]," one person wrote. "It's a hidden gem: a small and really beautiful beach." Another agreed, commenting: "Gorgeous little beach with a car park and toilets nearby. Cushendun isn't as 'touristy' as some of the bigger towns and has a lovely atmosphere," while a third added: "Fabulous little beach that's never too busy with nice, calm waters. My family loves it and the corner cafe is a beautiful little place with lovely, friendly staff." If you're tempted to spend a weekend in Cushendun, you'll first need to get to Belfast. Luckily, a slew of major UK airports offer direct flights - which take on average just 45 minutes - to the city, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London Stansted. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab return fares for as little as £28 in August. Once you've touched down in Northern Ireland, you'll need to drive almost 40 miles over to Cushendun, which takes around one hour. If you're taking public transport, this route takes an extra one hour and 27 minutes. Staying in Cushendun itself will be pretty challenging, due to its small size and lack of tourism. However, you can stay nearby in areas like Knocknacarry, without breaking the bank. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, August 8-10) at Mullarts Church will set you back £280. This is based on two people sharing a one-bedroom apartment.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
QFM Group divests 21 Costa Coffee stores in UK to SimTrava
QFM Group, a fast-food franchise operator based in the UK, has sold its portfolio of 21 Costa Coffee outlets to SimTrava. The financial specifics of the deal have not been made public. QFM Group was supported by law firm Freeths for the deal, as reported by Insider Media. This step marks the end of a 17-year relationship between QFM Group and the Costa Coffee brand. QFM Group director Kishan Patel was quoted by Insider Media: 'This was a significant and emotional decision for our family, and we're incredibly grateful to Andy and the wider Freeths team for guiding us through the process with such professionalism, care, and expertise. "Their support was instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful transaction, and we truly valued their thoughtful, values-driven approach throughout.' SimTrava, which began its journey with the Costa Coffee brand in October 2005 with its first licensed store in Northwich, will now increase its Costa franchise count from 58 to 79 locations, predominantly in the north of England. The acquisition positions SimTrava among the largest Costa Coffee franchisees in the UK, following Scoffs Group, which operates 110 outlets, as reported by World Coffee Portal. QFM Group now intends to concentrate on its KFC and Taco Bell franchises, in addition to expanding its 24-store Dunkin' franchise in the UK. Costa continues to hold the title of the largest coffee chain in the UK, with over 2,670 stores. In April 2025, the company announced an extension of its partnership with real estate advisor Savills to facilitate the opening of new locations in high streets and shopping centres across the country, aiming to recover from a period of stagnant growth. "QFM Group divests 21 Costa Coffee stores in UK to SimTrava " was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Popular coffee chain unveils revamped Glasgow store
Costa Coffee has reopened its store at the East End shopping centre today (July 25), marking the completion of one of the brand's most extensive store refurbishments in the region to date. The transformed store features a refreshed, modern layout and a newly located coffee bar which its hoped will improve customer flow and experience. READ NEXT: Fans of American singer left disappointed by new tour dates (Image: Supplied) Additional charging points have been installed throughout the cafe, making it an ideal spot for remote workers. The store's team has also been expanded, with the addition of one new barista maestro and three baristas. READ NEXT: New mural takes shape on side of Southside Paesano (Image: Supplied) Phillipa Macintyre, area managers at Costa Coffee, said: "We're proud of the transformation at our Glasgow Fort store. "This refresh represents a significant investment in our customer experience, and we can't wait to welcome both new and familiar faces back to enjoy their favourite coffee - made with Costa's iconic Mocha Italia Signature taste." The Glasgow Fort Costa Coffee store is open from 7:30am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Saturday and 9am to 7pm on Sunday.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola's failed coffee investment faces uncertain future
Coca-Cola (KO) bet big on Costa Coffee. Now it's rethinking the whole deal. "We're in the mode of reflecting on what we've learned, thinking about how we might want to find new avenues to grow in the coffee category while continuing to run the cost of business successfully," CEO James Quincey said on this week's earnings call. "It's still a lot of money we put down, and we wanted that money to work as hard as possible," he added. The $5.1 billion acquisition in 2018 was one of Quincy's first gambles as chief executive. The move was supposed to give Coca-Cola a "strong" foothold in the global coffee market, from retail stores to ready-to-drink (RTD) cans. But execution and growth have stalled. Costa reeled in £1.3 billion (then $1.7 billion) of revenue in fiscal year 2018 but reported £1.22 billion for fiscal year 2023. "Costa did a great job in the UK with things like lattes and cappuccinos, but that just isn't really the case in the U.S. The competition is tough, and their US strategy hasn't gained the traction they hoped for, " Rothschild & Co Redburn analyst Charlie Higgs said. In the US, Costa's business is focused on a B2B and packaged goods approach. Costa Professional offers equipment and support to businesses and reportedly has 250 Smart Café coffee vending machines around the country. In 2024, it launched an RTD iced coffee line featuring canned lattes and cold brews in retailers like Amazon Fresh (AMZN) and Walgreens (WBA). Globally, Costa operates more than 4,000 stores in over 50 countries, plus more than 14,000 Smart Café self-serve machines. The company offers a range of RTD beverages across Europe and Asia. "Coke bought that coffee business right before COVID," Beverage Digest editor Duane Stanford told Yahoo Finance. "Companies were pulling back to save, there was a shortage, and supply chains were tough. The last thing you were going to do was put ready-to-drink coffee in the market." After lockdowns eased, Costa's margins were hit again, this time by steep inflation, Higgs said. Prices for arabica coffee have whipsawed in recent years, driven by extreme weather events and supply disruptions. After spiking in 2022, it plunged to around $1.50 per pound by mid-2023, surged again by over 70% in 2024 to $2.50, and then soared to record highs of about $4.30 per pound in early 2025. Those struggles are now raising questions about whether Coca-Cola should keep Costa. "Given the tenor of comments and the lack of traction so far, I think it's fair to assume they wouldn't get back what they paid," Consumer Edge senior analyst Connor Rattigan told Yahoo Finance. "They paid 16.4x EBITDA, which was staggeringly high, even back then," Higgs noted. However, the business may not be up for sale in the near future. Coca-Cola recently folded Costa into its Europe, Middle East, and Africa division, sunsetting the standalone Global Ventures unit, according to Coca-Cola's 8-K filing. If the company was prepping a sale, keeping it separate would've made more sense, per Higgs. That said, Quincey is not afraid to cut losses. He already slashed Coca-Cola's brand portfolio by half in 2020, nixing brands like Odwalla, Hubert's Lemonade, and Zico's coconut water. Coca-Cola's second quarter revenue increased 1% year over year to $12.5 billion, with adjusted earnings per share growing 58% to $0.88, surpassing Wall Street's expectations. However, global unit case volumes declined by 1%, indicating soft demand in key markets. Coca-Cola's stock has gained 12% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500's (^GSPC) 9% advance and rival PepsiCo's (PEP) 4% drop. Scaling up Costa's RTD offerings could still offer growth, particularly in international markets, as competitors like Starbucks aggressively fight for the US. In North America, Starbucks operates through a joint venture with PepsiCo (PEP), which helps it distribute RTD products like bottled frappuccinos. In contrast, Coca-Cola has largely treated Costa as a test-and-learn project, Stanford said. This lack of clear commitment has contributed to the brand's stagnation. Its RTD launches have lacked the scale and support of a typical Coca-Cola rollout. "That RTD brand is so small and sporadic in terms of distribution it doesn't even show up on our data," Stanford added. "Costa still has potential," Rattigan said. "But at this point, it really comes down to whether Coca-Cola has the capacity, and the willingness to finally prioritize it." Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. He can be reached on LinkedIn and X, or via email at Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola's failed coffee investment faces uncertain future
Coca-Cola (KO) bet big on Costa Coffee. Now it's rethinking the whole deal. "We're in the mode of reflecting on what we've learned, thinking about how we might want to find new avenues to grow in the coffee category while continuing to run the cost of business successfully," CEO James Quincey said on this week's earnings call. "It's still a lot of money we put down, and we wanted that money to work as hard as possible," he added. The $5.1 billion acquisition in 2018 was one of Quincy's first gambles as chief executive. The move was supposed to give Coca-Cola a "strong" foothold in the global coffee market, from retail stores to ready-to-drink (RTD) cans. But execution and growth have stalled. Costa reeled in £1.3 billion (then $1.7 billion) of revenue in fiscal year 2018 but reported £1.22 billion for fiscal year 2023. "Costa did a great job in the UK with things like lattes and cappuccinos, but that just isn't really the case in the U.S. The competition is tough, and their US strategy hasn't gained the traction they hoped for, " Rothschild & Co Redburn analyst Charlie Higgs said. In the US, Costa's business is focused on a B2B and packaged goods approach. Costa Professional offers equipment and support to businesses and reportedly has 250 Smart Café coffee vending machines around the country. In 2024, it launched an RTD iced coffee line featuring canned lattes and cold brews in retailers like Amazon Fresh (AMZN) and Walgreens (WBA). Globally, Costa operates more than 4,000 stores in over 50 countries, plus more than 14,000 Smart Café self-serve machines. The company offers a range of RTD beverages across Europe and Asia. "Coke bought that coffee business right before COVID," Beverage Digest editor Duane Stanford told Yahoo Finance. "Companies were pulling back to save, there was a shortage, and supply chains were tough. The last thing you were going to do was put ready-to-drink coffee in the market." After lockdowns eased, Costa's margins were hit again, this time by steep inflation, Higgs said. Prices for arabica coffee have whipsawed in recent years, driven by extreme weather events and supply disruptions. After spiking in 2022, it plunged to around $1.50 per pound by mid-2023, surged again by over 70% in 2024 to $2.50, and then soared to record highs of about $4.30 per pound in early 2025. Those struggles are now raising questions about whether Coca-Cola should keep Costa. "Given the tenor of comments and the lack of traction so far, I think it's fair to assume they wouldn't get back what they paid," Consumer Edge senior analyst Connor Rattigan told Yahoo Finance. "They paid 16.4x EBITDA, which was staggeringly high, even back then," Higgs noted. However, the business may not be up for sale in the near future. Coca-Cola recently folded Costa into its Europe, Middle East, and Africa division, sunsetting the standalone Global Ventures unit, according to Coca-Cola's 8-K filing. If the company was prepping a sale, keeping it separate would've made more sense, per Higgs. That said, Quincey is not afraid to cut losses. He already slashed Coca-Cola's brand portfolio by half in 2020, nixing brands like Odwalla, Hubert's Lemonade, and Zico's coconut water. Coca-Cola's second quarter revenue increased 1% year over year to $12.5 billion, with adjusted earnings per share growing 58% to $0.88, surpassing Wall Street's expectations. However, global unit case volumes declined by 1%, indicating soft demand in key markets. Coca-Cola's stock has gained 12% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500's (^GSPC) 9% advance and rival PepsiCo's (PEP) 4% drop. Scaling up Costa's RTD offerings could still offer growth, particularly in international markets, as competitors like Starbucks aggressively fight for the US. In North America, Starbucks operates through a joint venture with PepsiCo (PEP), which helps it distribute RTD products like bottled frappuccinos. In contrast, Coca-Cola has largely treated Costa as a test-and-learn project, Stanford said. This lack of clear commitment has contributed to the brand's stagnation. Its RTD launches have lacked the scale and support of a typical Coca-Cola rollout. "That RTD brand is so small and sporadic in terms of distribution it doesn't even show up on our data," Stanford added. "Costa still has potential," Rattigan said. "But at this point, it really comes down to whether Coca-Cola has the capacity, and the willingness to finally prioritize it." Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. He can be reached on LinkedIn and X, or via email at Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy
