Peter Kirton, managing director, on Esquires Coffee Houses' performance during the recession...
"Year-on-year sales like for like for those stores that were trading before the recession are 2% up, which is very encouraging. And even this year, we’re seeing like-for-like increases across the entire group of shops.
"The coffee sector is still very buoyant despite the recession. It’s becoming a habit, a need for people, an affordable habit, it’s not a very expensive treat.
"People are also ‘buying down’: instead of going to a restaurant for a full meal, they may come into a coffee shop for a Panini or a salad and have a nice beverage with it. It’s also a nice place to meet."
On potential for growth as economy moves out of recession...
"There’s still a lot of growth potential. It’s been a phenomenal growth history over the last 10 or so years. There are pockets that are saturated – there are parts of London for example which are oversaturated in my view, so we tend to avoid London for that reason."
"But there are certainly many opportunities. If you look at other brands and their growth plans, everyone’s very buoyant about the future."
On the company’s fair-trade certification and charity work...
"Some of it’s about having a very good location in the community. And when I mention community, that’s one of the things on which we try and differentiate. We try and be part of the community and work more with the local customer base.
"All our coffee is fair-trade certified. I think we’re the first high-street brand to do that. Most of our tea is fair trade, so is our hot chocolate, and our sugar is fair trade. That’s another differentiator that people like.
"We do other things. We also support several charities. One is the Coffee Kids charity, which supports coffee growers’ kids in coffee growing areas, mostly in South America.
"And that’s help with education, medical. Finding out what their needs are and helping them rather than throwing money at them. Helping them with alternative forms of income so they’re not only dependant on coffee growing.
"And the other charity we support is One Water, and we proudly funded our first water well in Africa last year. It’s all about trying to give something back and improve everyone’s lot."
