Café nation? Exploring the growth of the UK café industry

The UK café industry has experienced significant growth over the last decade. With over 18 800 outlets, and a turnover of £7.2 billion recorded in 2014, the industry represents an important component of the retail sector. Industry commentators forecast that the industry will continue to grow and that there will be 27 000 outlets by 2020. This article provides an overview of the UK café industry and highlights the key drivers of it's rapid growth. It explores the ways that a new economic geography is quietly made as the café industry refashions our high streets. The article culminates by presenting an illustrative typology of café types which comprise the café industry in the UK, highlighting the need for greater research into the landscape of the café industry as it develops, and the roles that café spaces play in different communities.

Publisher Statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ferreira, J 2016, 'Café nation? Exploring the growth of the UK café industry' Area, vol 49, no. 1, pp. 69-76, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/area.12285
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