Sandwich and coffee chain EAT has announced plans to tackle the burgeoning train station and airport market as part of its expansion plans.

As reported in M&C Allegra Foodservice, the recently refurbished brand is hoping to build on the success of its Terminal 2 Heathrow outlet, which has produced double-digit like-for-like sales growth.

EAT is due to open its store in Cardiff in December and chief executive Adrian Johnson revealed ambitions to open around 20 more stores during next year. It is in legal proceedings with five sites and has made offers on a further 17.

Johnson estimated the majority of new stores would be in London, with approximately 70% of the new year’s stores opening in the capital. Further, once Cardiff is open, four of the next five stores will be in London.

Johnson said the brand had ambitions to establish a presence in the UK’s major cities, citing Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham as examples. However, he added that establishing good sites was harder outside of the capital, due to fewer good footfall locations.