Digital doesn’t have to be a grind for coffee chains

In an increasingly competitive coffee shop market, digital visibility at the local level matters more than ever, says Mike Fantis, Vice President & Managing Partner UK at DAC Group

Although the cost of a cup of coffee has risen by £0.33 in the UK over the past 12 months – and with an average cost of over £3 – coffee still safely falls into the category of affordable luxury.

Coffee may be recession-proof, and the UK coffee shop market is now valued at £4.9bn ($5.9bn), but the competitive set is growing, and this presents a problem for major branded coffee chains.