Costa Coffee

As the consultancy programme lead for Costa Coffee's global expansion, I led a strategic initiative to develop the brand's international growth plans.

Early activities included completing a comprehensive analysis of potential overseas markets including the evaluation of factors such as market size, growth prospects, consumer preferences and competitive landscapes. These allowed us to pinpoint and prioritise the most promising countries for expansion.

With these priority markets identified, I led the creation of customised entry strategies for each country. These plans included detailed "buy and build" approaches, considering both acquisitions of existing businesses and the establishment of new outlets. Collaborating with local experts and stakeholders ensured our strategies were practical and suited to local market conditions.

Throughout the programme, I worked closely with Whitbread’s senior leadership to align our expansion efforts with the company’s broader strategic objectives.