Despite the impact of the Brexit referendum on consumer sentiment in 2016, revenue from the coffee shop and café sector saw growth between 2016 and 2017, and is on track to see further growth between 2017 and 2018.

However, increasing concern with sugar and salt content in food and drink is likely to influence the market, particularly with recent media coverage concerning the amount of sugar used in hot drinks in coffee shops, as well as the high salt content of some sandwiches and snacks. Moving forward, offering healthier options to consumers will become increasingly important.

• This Report examines the coffee shop, sandwich shop and café market in NI and RoI, looking at both independent coffee/sandwich shops and also international (eg Starbucks, Subway) and domestic (eg Insomnia, O’Brien’s) coffee/sandwich shop chains.

• This Report covers those foodservice establishments where coffee and sandwiches are the primary sales item. Included are those establishments offering a wide variety of hot drinks such as teas and coffee drinks, eg cappuccino, latte, mocha etc and sandwiches which consist of bread (pan bread, pitta bread, wrap, ciabatta etc) with a filling of cooked meat eg ham and/or salad which is eaten as a light meal.

• Other items are usually on sale at these establishments, such as pastries, desserts, snacks, fruit, other soft drinks and smoothie/juice beverages etc. However, the food and drink offered in each of these establishments may be selective.

• Coffee shops and sandwich shops include venues such as individual stores, bakeries, kiosks and concessions. These may operate in a number of locations – motorway service areas (MSAs), department stores and hospitals, for example, as well as standalone outlets. However, they must be independent of the facility they are located in.