Non-specialist coffee operators such as McCafe and JD Wetherspoon have proven popular among value-focused customers, according to the World Coffee Portal.

The 2024 Non-Specialists Report identified 11,039 points of sale in the UK, with QSRs being the largest group of non-specialist coffee operators, followed by pubs & bars and supermarkets.

Subway is the segment market leader with 2,158 sites, ahead of McDonald’s 1,450 and JD Wetherspoon’s 798 locations.

Chains like McDonald’s and Subway have both introduced coffee ranges to anchor breakfast menus, with the former’s McCafe concept competing effectively with high street coffee chains on value and speed of service.

In the pub segment, Wetherspoon’s Lavazza self-service unlimited refill offer has also proven popular for value-focused customers.

Supermarket group Waitrose continues to boost customer loyalty by leveraging the Caffe Nero brand for its free in-store coffee offer. Waitrose also recently launched an in-store café concession in partnership with Gail’s.

Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer has made the M&S Café a key pillar of its modernisation strategy.

Faced with growing competition from online traders, high street retailers are increasingly investing in premium in-store coffee concepts to boost footfall and foster brand loyalty, with health retailer Holland & Barrett and telecoms company EE also launching in-store coffee offers over the past 12 months.

World Coffee Portal also found that 12-month outlet growth remains flat, with 245 net openings across 24 of the 69 brands in the report offset by 245 net closures across 17 brands.

The report forecasts the UK non-specialist coffee segment will add 135 net new sites over the next 12 months, expanding 1.2% to reach 11,174 locations.

However, the growing sophistication of UK coffee consumers means there is a robust market for premium coffee beyond typical coffee shop locations – with petrol stations, hotels and supermarkets all standing to boost sales and footfall by catering to high-quality coffee demand.

Allegra Group founder and CEO Jeffrey Young commented: “The continued growth of UK non-specialist segment underlines the importance of premium coffee throughout the entire fabric of the UK economy. UK consumers’ thirst for coffee now converges in a multitude of locations and formats, providing a fertile opportunity for the growth of the market.”