Starbucks is believed to be considering launching its artisan bakery brand, La Boulange, in the UK.
After piloting a number of bakery ranges throughout the UK over the last two years, the group has recently trademarked the La Boulange name. Items from the brand’s menu have already been incorporated across its 3,500 US sites.
Last year, Starbucks attained the San Francisco-based artisan bakery business Bay Bread and its La Boulange brand in a $100m deal.
Speaking to British Baker sister title M&C Report, Starbucks UK managing director Kris Engskov said that the group was to increase its investment in food across its UK estate.
He said: “It is a very competitive food market in the UK. The high street here is probably the most competitive in the world, therefore we need to, and will be, investing in not just our coffee, but our food offer over the next year.”
Engstov added that the group was not looking to acquire another bakery retail chain, such as Paul, since securing the La Boulange brand.
Last week, Starbucks announced its financial results for its 13-week fiscal third quarter and 39-week fiscal year to date ending June 30, 2013.
It’s total net revenues increased by 13% to $3.7bn, while global comparable store sales grew 8% driven by a 7% growth in traffic.
Consolidated operating income increased 25% to $615.2m, while the consolidated operating margin expanded 150 basis points to 16.4%. The company also opened 341 new stores in Q3, and now operates 19,209 outlets globally.
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