Costa Coffee franchise Ireland

There’s no doubting that coffee is now an important part of social gathering places in Ireland, elevating coffee franchises to a profitable and exciting business venture. In particular, Costa Coffee, one of the big international brands, is reporting strong growth here, despite our economic woes.

Through its franchise partnership with MBCC Foods Ireland, Costa opened its first store in Ireland in 2005 in Douglas, Co.Cork. Since then it has expanded to operate 39 outlets in the Republic and 13 in the North, employing about 450 people. There’s clearly an appeal for Costa among coffee lovers: the company reports a 5 per cent increase in customers year on year. It plans to open at least 10 new outlets every year over the next three years with the West of Ireland being a specific target area for expansion.

Founded by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa was originally a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. In 1995 it became a subsidiary of Whitbred and since then has grown to 1, 950 outlets across Europe. The company’s overall target is to have 3, 500 outlets in 30 countries by 2015.

It is the largest coffeehouse chain in Britain and the second largest in the world, behind Starbucks. Latest outlets in Ireland are at the Monread Road shopping centre in Naas, Co.Kildare and the Eastgate retail park in Little Island, Co Cork.

A Costa franchise is not for the faint hearted. A franchisee is expected to run a minimum of five outlets. The buy in (as of two years ago) is an initial £250, 000 and you must be able to raise another £500, 000 without borrowing against the outlets, which will belong to Costa.