Starbucks snaps up five more Little Chefs
The sites — Hailsham in East Sussex, Wirral, Wansford in Cheshire, Wrexham and Worksop — are part plans by EuroGarages to convert up to 30 former Little Chefs to trade as Starbucks’. Several of these pending sites are from Christie & Co’s instruction to market 40-plus Little Chef sites last year.
In addition to the EuroGarages deal, property adviser Christie & Co has successfully let five further former Little Chef sites — one in Liphook, Hampshire to 23.5 Degrees for another Starbucks franchisee,and the others to independent operators for continued use as roadside restaurants or cafes. These sites are in: Oldbury, West Midlands; Dundee; Cambridge; Five Oaks, West Sussex.
Simon Chaplin, director and head of restaurants for Christie & Co, said: “EuroGarages’ letting of these, and probably further, former Little Chef sites for licensing as Starbucks indicates just how popular these sites have been to the market. It is interesting to note that roadside sites are apparently integral to Starbucks’ strategy to extend its presence on the roadside."
Starbucks, which came under fire after it revealed it had not paid corporation tax for three years, said the move into franchising in the UK was part of the company's strategy to get to 'profitability in the UK' with stores expected to open in high footfall locations. The latest lettings were all brokered by Christie + Co.
