Coffee shop chains have increased by +47%, with 164 stores opening in the top ten urban areas throughout the UK in the year since October 2008, according to a report by the Local Data Company.

Independents’ have the greater market share at 70% having grown annually by 12.5%, establishing a clear lead over the chains in a rare retail area where independents rule.

The nation’s coffee capitals based on town centre size are Camden Town in London with 66 outlets, Brighton with 121 and Edinburgh with 182. Those with the lowest are Cockfosters, Hyde and Wolverton with each only having a solitary shop. London has the highest coffee shop per shopper at 1.105 compared to Cardiff at only 14,452 shoppers per outlet.

Despite public outcry against certain coffee chains, coffee is one of the few areas of retail where independents rule the market. The Local Data Company statistics show that independents’ market share increase to 70%, taking 1% from the multiples.

The overall total of independent coffee shops stands at an impressive 9,441 in the 705 researched centres, in comparison to just over 2,000 chain outlets.
This year, there has been a total increase of 164 stores across independents and chains in the top ten urban areas, in comparison with a much diminished increase of 76 stores last year.