Retailers should be stocking Cold Coffee

Posted on: 2016-08-30 1:29 PM

Convenience stores offering chilled coffee drinks to go have reported an increase in demand, with a recent rise in popularity for the dairy-free varieties.
 
Despite this, only 25% of retailers interviewed this week stock these products.
 
According to Thaya Patel, duty manager at Londis Ferne Park Road, Haringey, chilled coffee is “a no-brainer” and the store has increased its range as a result. He said: “We sell Jimmy’s Iced Coffee and Starbucks brands and we started stocking dairy-free Rebel Kitchen drinks a few months ago.”
 
Using offers and promotions, Mr Patel said demand for chilled products has increased, particularly during summer. He also said the popularity of dairy-free drinks came as a surprise.
 
Mehmet Guzel, of Simp–ly Fresh in Bethnal Green, London, said he has seen a steady increase in demand since initially stocking chilled coffee and now offers a range of brands.
 
“To get good sales you need to have a few different brands to highlight the category.”
 
Simply Fresh in Thames Ditton, Surrey, now stocks 10 varieties of Starbucks chilled coffee drinks and believes other retailers should try the product. Gurjeet Singh, manager of the store, said: “We’ve been stocking the product for many years and it has always been popular.”
 
Industry commentator Steve Dresser this week tweeted he believed the next trend would be cold press coffee – also known as cold brew – an unsweetened coffee drink.
 
But Mr Guzal and Mr Patel, who have trialled the product, say they did not attract many sales – largely due to the high price tag.
 
Mr Patel said: “We stocked cold press coffee, but it wasn’t very popular. It’s more expensive so that’s obviously a factor and it’s niche, so it’s not for every customer.”