News - Kenilworth Coffee
The Costa Coffee in Kenilworth has announced a major expansion after business has steamed ahead since opening last year.
Mark Thompson (Wareing & Company), left, with Bernie Foster, (Costa Coffee) and Matteo la Pietra (right), manager of the Kenilworth outlet.
Kenilworth Coffee January 2007
The national coffee name opened in Talisman Square last February but is now set to double its floor space by extending into the first storey.
Central Coffee, the company which operates the outlet, had originally thought it would consider expanding after the town’s new Waitrose opened, but it is already trading at levels predicted for next year.
Bernie Taylor, who runs Central Coffee with her husband Nigel, said they had performed above expectations since first opening.
“We came to Kenilworth because we felt the area was perfect for us. There is a good through-flow of people, it is a relatively affluent town and, of course, Waitrose is coming.
“We were always confident that we would trade well but we are very pleasantly surprised at the way business has taken off. When we opened in February 2007 it was snowing but there were people with toboggans waiting for us to unlock the doors.
“We have had a great mix of people from mothers with toddlers, to business people having meetings and the guys working on the redevelopment of the square.
“The townspeople have really embraced us and sort of offer that Costa brings to the town. I think it undoubtedly shows that modern, sophisticated retailing is tailor made for Kenilworth market.
“We are now trading at the levels predicted for after Waitrose had opened so we feel the time is now right to expand ready for the new store to open.”
The work will create a new seating area on the first floor and the Central Coffee offices will be based in the building.
Kenilworth was the second Costa which Central Coffee opened, and it now has four outlets in the Midlands with five more scheduled in the next 12 months.
Taylor added: “I think the redevelopment and the opening of Waitrose will have a similar effect on many businesses in the town and well certainly increase trade over the longer term.”
Mark Thompson, of commercial property agents Wareing & Company, who are acting on behalf of the developers Cobalt Estates (Kenilworth), said that the Waitrose effect would be a massive boost to other local businesses.
“This is proof again that Kenilworth is a buoyant town for businesses offering the right products to the right market. Central Coffee has done just that and the business will only expand when Waitrose opens.
“There is obviously a great deal of disruption going on in the town in general so to hear of their success is good news and we are confident that all business will feel the benefit once the work is completed.”
