UK: new trends and new opportunities for coffee machine brands

The UK coffee machines market is one of the most dynamic in the European scenario. Compared to other countries, it presents a lower concentration in terms of number of manufacturers and a less power of coffee roasters in the distribution chain.

However, the competitive rivalry in very high as well as the substitute products in the market.

The hospitality industry, full of restaurants (39%), hotels (25%), and bars (17%), has been showing an increasing trend of independent coffee shops and little local chains (the so called “artisan” coffee shops – especially in the major UK cities) and pubs (selling coffee). Their offer is added to the rich offer of big brands (Costa Coffee, Starbucks Coffee Company, Caffè Nero, Pret A Manger, EAT, etc) that make the UK a really interesting country for coffee machines manufacturers.

Following an increasing trend of coffee consumption at home (above all instant coffee), the market is asking for coffee in the Ho.Re.Ca. channels in different formulas and it has been creating new opportunities for coffee machine manufacturers: from the traditional coffee machines to the single served fully automatic coffee machines.