The UK coffee market is showing signs of recovery, with projections indicating a 5.11% growth from 2024 to 2028, resulting in a market volume of US$2.3 billion in 2028. This positive outlook comes after the industry faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a staggering 86% decline in out-of-home (OOH) coffee sales in April 2020 compared to March 2020.
However, despite the pandemic’s impact, some coffee companies have successfully adapted by diversifying their sales channels, focusing on online sales and subscription models, which have seen substantial growth.
“The resilience of the coffee industry in the face of adversity is commendable,” said Lez Carr, Director of Branded Paper Cups. “We are optimistic that the projected growth in the coffee market will translate into increased demand for our paper cup products.”
While the coffee market is poised for growth, the industry has not been immune to the broader economic challenges facing the UK. The cafes and coffee shops market size in the UK has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% over the past five years, reaching an estimated £6.2 billion.
Inflation has also been a significant concern, with the UK’s inflation rate exceeding 11%, the highest in over 40 years. This has led to increased costs for items such as cups, stirrers, coffee beans, and electricity, which could potentially be more damaging to coffee shops than the pandemic itself.
“The paper cup manufacturing industry has felt the impact of these economic challenges,” Carr acknowledged. “However, we remain committed to providing high-quality and sustainable paper cup solutions to our valued customers in the coffee industry.”
As the UK coffee market recovers and continues to grow, the demand for paper cups is expected to increase correspondingly. However, inflationary pressures and increased costs of raw materials may pose ongoing challenges for the paper cup manufacturing industry, potentially leading to higher prices for paper cups.
“We are closely monitoring these market trends and adapting our strategies to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our customers while maintaining competitive pricing,” Carr added.
Despite the challenges, the future looks promising for the UK coffee industry and the paper cup manufacturing sector that supports it. Branded Paper Cups remains committed to being a reliable partner in this recovery and growth journey.