Costa Coffee 2319383 225208369 2008-07-12T13:45:40Z 82.0.24.33 /* See also */ {{Infobox Company | company_name = Costa Coffee | company_logo = [[Image:Costacoffee.jpg|250px|Logo for Costa Coffee]] | company_type = [[franchising|Franchise]] owned by [[Whitbread]] | foundation = [[1971]] | location = [[Dunstable]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]] | key_people = Sergio and Bruno Costa ([[Entrepreneurs|Founders]]) | area_served = [[United Kingdom]],[[South Asia]], [[China]], [[Middle East]], [[Central and Eastern Europe]] | industry = [[Hospitality]] | products = [[coffee]], small snacks and [[soft drinks]] | global store count = over 680 | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = [[Whitbread]] | subsid = | homepage = http://www.costa.co.uk/ | footnotes = }} '''Costa Coffee''' is a [[coffee house]] company based in the [[United Kingdom]] founded in 1971 by [[Italian people|Italian]] brothers Vilas Costa, as a wholesale operation supplying roasted [[coffee]] to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. In [[1995]], the company was acquired by, and is now a subsidiary of, the [[Whitbread]] franchise<ref>[http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33934/whitbread-plc.html Whitbread PLC - hospitality company profiles]</ref>. == History == Bruno and Sergio Costa set up their coffee roastery in Lambeth, London in 1971, supplying local caterers and coffee shops with their slow-roasted blend<ref>[http://www.costa.co.uk/coffee/ Costa Coffee]</ref>. Costa branched out to [[retailing]] coffee in 1978, when their first store opened in [[Vauxhall Bridge Road]], [[London]], [[England]]. Later, they sold the business to Whitbread. ==Costa Book Awards== {{main|Costa Book Awards}} As of 2006 Costa Coffee is the sponsor of Whitbread Book Awards, which are now called the [[Costa Book Awards]]. == Retail Branches == [[Image:Costa Coffee At Gunwharf Quays.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A branch of Costa Coffee at [[Gunwharf Quays]].]] [[Image:ZDXC0053.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A cup of Costa Coffee.]] Costa Coffee operates around 760 stores in the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>[http://www.scae.com/news/147/costa-chain-to-move-into-new-market-with-200-outlets/ Speciality Coffee Association of Europe - News]</ref>. Its outlets can be found in airports and within [[Waterstone's]] bookstores, [[W. H. Smith]] and [[Homebase]] stores, [[Abbey (bank)|Abbey]] banks, [[Marriott Hotel]]s, [[Empire Cinemas]], [[Tesco]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Beefeater (restaurant)|Beefeater]] and in some workplaces<ref>[http://www.parkviewshoppingcentre.com/content/view/28/26/ Park View Shopping Centre - Costa Coffee]</ref>. Smaller sub-units are also set up in train stations throughout the UK. Costa Coffee also has branches in [[Bahrain]], [[Bulgaria]]<ref>[http://www.cee-foodindustry.com/news/ng.asp?id=71470-whitbread-costa-coffee-bulgaria-coffee Costa Coffee to enter Bulgaria]</ref><ref>[http://www.propertywisebulgaria.com/article/costa-coffee---to-invest-15-million-euro-in-cafes-in-2008/id_2206/catid_12 Costa Coffee - to invest 1.5 million euro in cafes in 2008 - Daily News Article]</ref>, [[China]]<ref>[http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases&view=241 Whitbread: Costa to launch coffee shop chain in Beijing]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5097570.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Costa Coffee set to open in China]</ref>, [[Cyprus]], [[Egypt]], [[Greece]], [[India]]<ref>[http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/262005766.htm Costa Coffee eyes lucrative Indian market, to open 300 outlets]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050603320500.htm The Hindu Business Line : Costa Coffee on expansion mode; to enhance presence]</ref><ref>[http://www.indiaretailbiz.com/blog/2008/01/17/costa-coffee-plans-to-expand-eight-fold-in-4-years/ 'Costa Coffee' plans 300 stores in 4 years; undertakes an eight-fold expansion drive | IndiaRetailBiz]</ref><ref>[http://franchise.business-opportunities.biz/2007/07/24/costa-coffee-to-open-300-outlets-in-four-years/ Franchise Business Opportunities | Costa Coffee To Open 300 Outlets In Four Years]</ref><ref>[http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13937373 Costa Coffee to open 300 outlets in India - Sify.com]</ref><ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2747547,prtpage-1.cms Costa first international coffee chain to enter India- Corporate Dossier-Specials-The Economic Times]</ref><ref>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2004/oct/29costa.htm UK's Costa Coffee enters India]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4179696.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Costa Coffee eyes Indian tea cups]</ref><ref>[http://www.ukinindia.com/magazines/britaintoday/BTInnerpage.asp?IssueId=87&magzineId=3&SectionId=831&ArticleId=2243 Costa Coffee Bringing Cheer]</ref>, [[Ireland]], [[Kuwait]], [[Lebanon]], [[Oman]], [[Poland]], [[Qatar]], [[Pakistan]]<ref>[http://www.ameinfo.com/74339.html MMI joint venture opens first Costa Coffee outlet in Pakistan | MMI]</ref>, [[India]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]]<ref>[http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases&view=244 Whitebread: Costa enters the Russian Coffee Market]</ref>, [[Serbia]], [[Spain]], [[Syria]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[United Arab Emirates]]<ref>[http://www.ameinfo.com/20592.html Costa Coffee opens new outlets at Dubai International Airport | Costa Coffee]</ref>. Their biggest store is located in Dubai and can seat up to 320 people. ==Coffee production== Costa have their own roastery and employ the only three Italian Master Roasters in the UK. The blend served in retail stores is known as "Mocha Italia" and contains six parts arabica beans and one part robusta beans.<ref>[http://costa.co.uk/perfectcup/# Costa Coffee: The Perfect Cup]</ref> ==See also== *[[Starbucks]] *[[Caffè Nero]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/brands/costacoffee/ Costa Coffee at Motorway Services] *[http://www.costa.co.uk/ Costa Coffee website] *[http://www.costabookawards.com/ Costa Book Awards website] *[http://www.thecostafoundation.org/ Costa Foundation website] {{Whitbread}} {{UK Food}} [[Category:Companies established in 1971]] [[Category:Coffee houses]] [[Category:Breweries and beverage companies of the United Kingdom]] [[it:Costa Coffee]] [[simple:Costa Coffee]]