During a summer which has brought us cricket’s latest Ashes series, franchise specialists 23.5 Degrees celebrated a century of their own as they opened their 100th Starbucks café in the UK.
Their story began in February 2013, when Liphook in Hampshire became the venue for the first Starbucks outlet. Since then, the Starbucks’ UK network has grown immensely, with the 90th opening unveiled last year in Blaydon, Gateshead.
And the hundred came up recently when 23.5 Degrees opened their newest UK café in Staffordshire – on Ninian Way, Tamworth. With headquarters in Hedge End, Southampton, 23.5 Degrees have ambitious plans to reach 300 UK stores by the end of 2027.
That is why the company is actively searching for new locations. They are keen to secure both freehold and leasehold ‘drive-thru’ sites on main arterial routes, which are close to major retail destinations or on large industrial estates.
Managing director of 23.5 Degrees, Mark Hepburn, said: “In just 10 years we have built this company from one store to 100, and we are excited to have reached such a major milestone.
“We’re able to move fast on great new sites. Furthermore, our use of modular design enables our landlords to have stores up and running quickly. We’re keeping our foot firmly on the gas and aiming to reach 300 stores in the next four years.”
There are three standard sizes for the company’s modular or traditionally built outlets. These are: 1,500, 1,800 and 2,200 sq ft. And 23.5 Degrees are happy to consider retail-park and drive-to destinations, as well as high street units in densely populated locations.
Mark Hepburn added: “We look to the future with optimism and remain steadfast in our commitment to innovation, diversity and social responsibility. I’d like to thank our partners who have delivered day-in and day-out to ensure we continue to serve our customers and build the business.”
The 23.5 Degrees network currently has more than 1,750 employees working in stores across the country. The company has a proven track record of developing its people, and many of their managers started out as baristas.
More than half of the firm’s managers have been promoted to their positions from within the business. And over the past decade, 23.5 Degrees has invested more than £35m in the UK economy through building and buying stores.
The new Tamworth store, which is located in Tame Leisure Park (B775DL), is open between 6.00am and 9.00pm, seven days a week.
About 23.5 Degrees: The business is owned and run by Mark Hepburn who has a track record of management success in food franchise companies. These include Burger King and KFC. He is also supported by an experienced board who have worked extensively within the world of franchising.
23.5 Degrees currently hold the rights to develop sites in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Essex and Dorset. In the north they hold the rights to open stores in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland, as well as Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire in the East Midlands. All stores are designed using specifications developed by Starbucks.
Starbucks, which was founded in 1971 and has its global headquarters in Seattle, Washington, has over 33 thousand stores across 80 countries, with around half of these outlets in the United States.
