Greek coffee chain Coffee Island is accelerating its global expansion, entering the Indian market, preparing for a move into France, and strengthening its presence in Egypt with a new production facility.
Coffee Island is set to open its first store in Delhi next month, becoming the first European coffee brand to establish a foothold in India’s burgeoning coffee market. The debut comes as global giant Nestlé prepares to launch its first Nespresso boutique in the same market. With Indian coffee consumption on the rise, particularly for at-home brewing, Coffee Island’s entry is timely and strategically aligned with consumer trends.
Egypt: A New Production Hub
On the African continent, Coffee Island has solidified its presence in Egypt by launching a production facility through a joint venture (30% ownership). The factory, operational since last month, supports the needs of its five local stores while leaving room for future expansion. Egypt’s growing market, with its youthful population of 110 million, presents significant opportunities, according to Coffee Island CEO Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos.
However, he clarified that this new facility does not affect production at the company’s headquarters in Patras, Greece, which remains a global hub, handling over 1,800 tonnes of raw coffee annually.
France Expansion Planned for 2025
Looking ahead, Coffee Island has signed a master franchise agreement for France, with plans to begin operations there in 2025.
Steady Growth and Network Optimisation
Despite global challenges, Coffee Island reported a turnover of €36.9 million in 2023, with an 8% growth forecast for 2024. The company serves 170,000 customers daily across its network of 430 stores in 100 cities worldwide, employing 3,500 people.
CEO Konstantinopoulos noted the focus is on quality rather than rapid expansion, saying, “We don’t want the 430 stores to become 630. Instead, we aim to enhance our services and products.”
Looking ahead, the company expressed concern over potential EU regulations requiring proof of non-deforestation for coffee imports, which could exclude many suppliers due to inadequate market certifications rather than sustainability failures.