Greggs overtakes Costa Coffee as Britain's largest coffee chain with 2,737 outlets

In the first half of 2026, Greggs, a British bakery chain, overtook Costa Coffee to become the UK's largest branded coffee operator. Greggs added 34 shops, reaching 2,737 outlets, while Costa had 2,707, according to the Allegra World Coffee Portal report. The UK coffee shop economy grew to £6.8 billion in 2025, up 5% from the previous year. Greggs plans further expansion, aiming for 3,500 outlets, while Costa focuses on refurbishments after reporting losses of over £13 million for 2024. Rising coffee bean prices due to climate events may pressure higher-end coffee shops.