CARDIFF –Coffee #1, a coffee chain owned by SA Brain & Co, the Wales’ largest independent brewer, reported a 55% increase in sales as it continues to open new outlets.
The company is planning to start about 30 new coffee shops over three years as it diversifies from its traditional pub business.
Family-owned brewer and hospitality firm SA Brain & Co, bought Coffee #1 in September 2011 with a long-term view for organic growth. Based in Cardiff, SA Brain employs around 2,000 and has 240 pubs
It has passed its initial aim of opening 30 outlets and is on target to open 50 by 2015 and 50 more over the following five years, the brewer said.
Brains said its group turnover for the year to October 2013 was £122.2m, up £1.4m or 1.2% on the previous year.
Underlying operating profit grew 1.3% to £3.7m, while Ebitda was flat at £11.8m.
However, chief executive Scott Waddington said Coffee #1 was no more than 10% of the group’s overall income but was still a “big growth story”.
Mr Waddington expects the coffee chain to become an important part of the group’s business as it continued to expand.
