Costa Coffee opens new outlets at Dubai International Airport

The new outlets are in prime positions en route to the departure gates from the Dubai Duty Free retail area. Each of the new airport outlets is a 125 square meter unit, operated by a team of 16 staff working three shifts, 24 hours per day. The two new airport outlets bring the total number of Costa Coffee outlets in Dubai to 10.

Piers Burton, Head of Business Development at MMI, explained the strategy behind MMI's Costa Coffee franchise expansion: "MMI's Costa Coffee franchise is an important element of the company's overall shift of emphasis towards the retail and leisure markets."

"MMI has held the UAE franchise for Costa Coffee since 1999 and has been adding outlets gradually, targeting very strategic locations which fit with the international premium nature of the Costa Coffee brand. Our first outlet at the airport, which is in the departure building food court area, has performed very well, with a presentation to match the futuristic design of the airport and with the addition of a self-service facility, which is appreciated by passengers on the move.

"We were obviously keen to add further outlets at Dubai International Airport because of the rapidly developing traffic - in 2002 alone, the number of departure and transit passengers increased by almost one million - and we are delighted with the new positions that we have secured, which ensure very high visibility."

MMI currently operates 10 Costa Coffee outlets in Dubai; at Dubai International Airport (3), Deira City Centre, City Tower 2, Century Village, Spectrum Building, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Airline Centre and Mercato shopping centre.

The Costa brothers opened the first Costa store in London in 1978 and growth expanded at the rate of two stores per year with the help of their family and friends in the business. With huge growth over the 1990s, the company had increased to 300 stores by 2002, making it the UK's largest coffee retailer.