Cooks Coffee Company Limited (AQUIS:COOK), the international coffee focused café chain, has provided a trading update on the systemwide performance of its Esquires (The Organic Coffee Company) branded franchised stores in the UK and Ireland for the three months ended 30 June 2026*.
Highlights
· Group systemwide store sales in the UK and Ireland increased 14.0% in Q1 FY27 compared with the same period last year
· UK systemwide store sales increased 14.9%, with like-for-like (“LFL”) sales up 2.1%
· Ireland systemwide store sales increased 11.8%, with LFL sales up 1.8%
· The Group continued to expand its store network, with 84 stores in the UK and 26 in Ireland at 30 June 2026, representing a combined increase of 14.6% from 96 stores at the same point last year
· Over the 12 months to 30 June 2026, Group systemwide store sales increased 19.3%, with UK sales up 18.5% and Ireland sales up 21.2%
· Over the same 12-month period, LFL sales increased 1.4% in the UK and 2.7% in Ireland
Market Context
According to World Coffee Portal’s Project Café UK 2026 report, the UK branded coffee shop market recorded outlet growth of 3.5% and sales value growth of 5.5% during 2025. Against this backdrop, Esquires significantly outperformed the market, increasing its UK store estate by 14.9% and delivering systemwide sales growth of 18.5% over the 12 months to 30 June 2026.
Operational Review
Cooks Coffee has continued to deliver positive trading across both the UK and Ireland during the first quarter, supported by a combination of positive like-for-like sales growth and the contribution from the new store openings.
Over the 12 months to 30 June 2026, the Group increased its UK estate by a net eight stores, with 18 new stores opened and 10 closures, taking the total number of UK stores to 84. In Ireland, seven stores were opened during the period, with one closure, increasing the total number of stores to 26, six of which operate under the Tesco partnership.
The continued positive LFL performance across both markets, alongside the contribution from new stores, was achieved against a backdrop of unusually hot weather in May and June. This demonstrates the resilience of the Esquires brand and the effectiveness of the Group’s franchise model, with underlying sales growth being maintained alongside continued network expansion.
While the Group’s principal focus remains the UK and Ireland, the Esquires brand also mantains an international presence through franchised operations in Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, with new store development underway in India and Dubai extending the brand’s reach across multiple international markets.
The Group continues to pursue its strategy of expanding the Esquires brand across the UK and Ireland and is evaluating a number of additional opportunities for new stores.
Brand and ESG
The Group remains committed to operating the Esquires brand in accordance with its Envrironmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives, with a continued focus on ethical sourcing, responsible business practices and high-quality customer experience.
During the period, Esquires Caerphilly store in Wales received a Best Ethical Coffee award, recognising
store’s sustainability and ethical sourcing credentials, along with the great customer service and community engagement.
Keith Jackson, Executive Chairman of Cooks Coffee, commented:
“We are pleased to report another period of positive trading, with Group systemwide sales increasing by 14.0% during the first quarter and by 19.3% over the last 12 months. We continue to deliver positive like-for-like growth across both the UK and Ireland while expanding our store network. The Group has increased its estate by 14.6% over the last year, reflecting the strength of the Esquires brand and the commitment of our franchise partners.
“We have made a positive start to the new financial year and remain confident in the Group’s opportunities for futher growth across both existing and new locations.”
*Unless otherwise stated, systemwide store sales refer to aggregate sales generated across the Group’s Esquires-branded stores in the UK and Ireland. Like-for-like sales compare sales from stores that traded throughout both the relevant current and prior-year periods.
