Trying to keep a froth

Rising chain coffee shops are now leaving Britain’s best loved coffee shops under attack. Reports are now showing that in a decade there could be over 6,000 chain coffee shops in Britain.

Coffee shops are dominating the high street at an alarming rate. According to recent reports there are over 3,600 coffee shop chains spread across the Uk. The cafe culture generates an annual turnover of 2.5bn .Independent stores are struggling with the rent on prime positions, and fighting off stiff competition is proving too much.

Not only do independent coffee shops offer a better atmosphere, it also serves better coffee and a more personal service. On average a cup of coffee in a independent coffee house  can cost around £1.60 whereas in a chain store in can be anywhere from around £2.40 upwards.

Regular coffee shop goer Harry Field said: “I absolutely refuse to enter the chain cafes, my friends think I am a snob, but it isn't just quality and taste. It's about supporting independent shops and actually buying something that is about taste and quality, and not just buying for the sake of it being a brand.”

While independent coffee shops fight for survival, chain stores are multiplying in a bid for a better profit margin and to gain a more widespread audience. The rate of Starbucks growth is phenomenal, new Starbucks are opening at a rate of one per fortnight with London housing the most Starbuck stores in a concentrated area in the world. An order of a large white chocolate mocha whole milk whip adds up to a staggering 628 calories.  Costa Coffee has also set its sights on more stores, Andy Hamson Chief executive of Whitbread who own Costa said ‘they on opening up 3,500 Costa coffee stores worldwide in the next five years.’

Richard Bell owner of the Coffee Hut in Lincoln said “I’ve owned the coffee hut for the last 3 years, at the start business was great, but now I’m scraping a profit as many people prefer to just go to a chain one as it’s the easiest option. Independent coffee shops are slowly dying out, it’s very sad.”

The credit crunch has also has a dramatic effect on people grabbing a quick caffeine fix. Not only are independent coffee shops feeling the strain but big players like Starbucks has using seen a drop in profits.

Starbucks, Costa and Cafe Nero project such a strong image of coffee that more people are opting for the easy choice instead of hunting out an independent one. A recent survey shows that just 12 per cent of consumers picked an independent coffee house over a chain one. 

Consumers are now shunning afternoon homemade scones, cakes and sandwiches in favour of frapicinco’s, fancy coffee flavours and batch produced carrot cake.