News

Wake up call: McDonald's becomes No. 1 coffee seller in U.K.

September 22, 2010

McDonald's burgers may have put the chain on the proverbial map, but it's the McCafe line up that has consumers lovin' it these days, especially in the United Kingdom.

According to NPD, a market research firm, McDonald's has become Britain's largest seller of coffee, overtaking longtime U.K. favorites Costa, Tesco, Caffe Nero and Starbucks.

The Daily Telegraph reported McDonald's sold 84 million cups of coffee throughout the past year, an increase of 39 percent in sales from the previous two years.

The quick-service chain began selling coffee in the country in 2007, about 10 years later than most of its peers. In addition to its cappuccinos and lattes, McDonald's began selling espresso coffee just this week.

The NPD reported on all coffee outlets, including supermarkets and gas stations. The research concluded McDonald's lower price points helped move the chain into the No. 1 position.

From the story:

"McDonald’s have been astonishingly successful at selling coffee. They recognized that serving a decent cup of coffee was crucial to winning over customers at breakfast time and in the afternoon," said Jeffrey Young, managing director of Allegra, which analyzes the U.K. coffee market.