Costa Coffee takes 130 baristas to 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Pret A Manger opens first two stores in Madrid, Doritos launches coffee flavoured crisps in Australia, Michigan-based MQT Hospitality acquires local coffee roaster and Japanese coffee chain Komeda’s Coffee unveils thickened coffee for elderly customers
Costa Coffee is the Official Worldwide Coffee Partner for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games | Photo credit: Costa Coffee
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Costa Coffee takes 130 baristas to France for 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Coca-Cola owned Costa Coffee has taken 130 baristas and team managers to France to manage its pop-up kiosks at the Olympic Games. As the Official Worldwide Coffee Partner for both the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the UK coffee chain is operating temporary ‘pods’ across some of the event’s key venues, including the Athletes’ Village, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Roland-Garros, Versailles and Le Golf National. The 130 staff members from the UK, India, Poland, Malta, Cyprus and the UAE have undergone significant training and upskilling to provide the highest-quality experience for the event, which is expected to attract 15 million visitors to the French capital.
Pret A Manger lands in Madrid with two stores at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport
UK coffee and food-to-go chain Pret A Manger has opened two new stores at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport – the brand’s first in the Spanish capital. Pret entered Spain in November 2023 in partnership with Portugal-based franchisee Ibersol Group and now operates six sites in the western European market. Ibersol Group plans to open 70 Pret A Manger stores across Spain and Portugal by 2033 with a focus on major cities and key transport hubs.
Doritos launches coffee-flavoured crisps in Australia
Doritos has released limited-edition, coffee-flavoured crisps in Australia to support consumers ‘get over the 3pm slump’ – a daypart it said often leaves Australians ‘disappointed by their favourite coffee shop being closed’. Doritos said it would be giving away an initial 300 packs of the product – which includes 0.4% coffee powder flavouring per 150g pack – to its social media followers. The brand is known for its quirky limited-edition crisps, which in the past has included black garlic, clam chowder, camembert, gourmet sausage and wasabi-flavoured releases.
Michigan-based Velodrome Coffee Company acquired by MQT Hospitality
US coffee roaster and café operator Velodrome Coffee Company has been acquired by MQT Hospitality Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Founded by Bryce Sturmer in 2017, Velodrome Coffee Company operates stores in the Michigan cities of Marquette, Ishpeming and Hougton. It sources and roasts coffee from Guatamala, Colombia and Papau New Guinea and supplies a number of wholesale clients, including 231 West Patisserie and Cruisin’ Coffee – both owned by MQT Hospitality.
Komeda’s serves thickened coffee for customers with difficulty swallowing
Japanese coffee chain Komeda’s Coffee has begun serving a thickened coffee product (toromi), which customers who have difficulty swallowing can enjoy from a spoon. Komeda’s Chief Marketing Officer Yayoi Ito said the business began developing the product in 2020 to cater for the estimated one million consumers in Japan, particularly the elderly, who can find hot traditional hot beverages difficult to swallow. After marketing it in the third quarter of 2022, Komeda’s began serving thickened coffee at 260 outlets in May 2024.