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Starbucks wants to become the UK’s largest coffee chain. Here’s how it plans to do it

As its first and largest European market, the UK has always been significant to Starbucks’ international growth. Now, the world’s largest coffee chain has unveiled a roadmap to become the UK’s largest coffee chain

4 March 2026

4 min read

A Starbucks store in London Bridge, London, UK | Photo credit: Starbucks

As its first and largest European market, the UK has always been significant to Starbucks’ international growth. Now, the world’s largest coffee chain has unveiled a roadmap to become the UK’s largest coffee chain

Starbucks has outlined a bold ambition to become the largest coffee chain in the £6.8bn UK branded coffee shop market.

Starbucks launched in the UK in September 1998 with an outlet on London’s King’s Road, marking its entry into Europe.

Starbucks was the UK’s largest coffee operator by outlets until 2011, when it was overtaken by Costa Coffee.

Today, the US coffee chain operates over 1,400 stores across the UK, making it the third-largest branded coffee chain in the market, behind Greggs and Costa Coffee, which both have more than 2,700 sites.