The Sunday Times (Weekly / UK)
Drive-thru operator brews up plan to switch from Starbucks to Costa
Britain’s biggest Starbucks operator is weighing an audacious move to jettison its sites to unlock a cut-price swoop on rival Costa coffee. EGGroup is understood to be considering proposals to sell the franchise rights to the 140 Starbucks “drivethru” and “drive-in” sites that it operates across the UK. EG must do so to allow it to bid for Costa, whose owner, Coca-Cola, has begun sounding out potential suitors. Starbucks’ franchise agreement strictly prohibits direct and indirect investments in, or operating on behalf of, rivals.