Costa total sales rise 16.7%
The latest report from Whitbread PLC showed that the coffee chain’s total sales grew for the 24 weeks to 13 August 2015.
Whitbread PLC recorded a total 11.1% growth in total sales.
Andy Harrison, Chief Executive of Whitbread, said, “We are continuing to deliver our ambitious organic growth plans with another good quarter, growing total sales by 11.1% and like for like sales by 3.3% for the 11 weeks to 13 August.”
“Costa maintained its rapid growth with worldwide sales growing by 16.2% and UK Retail system sales up 14.8%. In the UK like for like sales growth was good at 4.0%, against a strong performance last year. August is often affected by weather and holiday patterns and trading this August, across all our brands, was softer than expected against strong comparatives from an excellent month last year.”
Costa grew its like for like UK sales by 4.6% for the 24 weeks, and opened 61 net new UK stores.
Worldwide system sales rose by 15.1% to £693.7 million (15.1% at constant currency). Within this franchise system sales grew by 12.2% to £265.7 million.
Costa Enterprises (including Costa Express UK & International) delivered system sales of £175.0 million, up 15.5%.
International system sales grew by 13.6% to £144.1 million (13.6% at constant currency). 11 net new stores were opened in the period with two in EMEI and nine in Asia.
Costa plans to open around 220 net new stores this year, including the closure of around 60 lower margin UK franchise stores in petrol stations following their disposal by Esso. There are also plans to install around 700-800 net Costa Express machines in the year.
