Nespresso scopes Irish expansion outside of Dublin

Premium coffee brand Nespresso is scoping out locations outside of Dublin for an expansion of its brand here.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Francisco Nogueira, chief executive of Nespresso UK and Ireland, said: "We are still looking for different business opportunities. It's not only about Dublin any more, it's about the different cities."

Mr Nogueira visited Dublin to launch a new campaign around coffee sustainability. He said the Irish market was still evolving and that a continued presence here makes sense for the company.

“Irish people are a bit ahead in terms of their understanding of the coffee. We are seeing a big shift in terms of consumption. People were usually drinking tea - but now with the new generations there is a big evolution from tea to coffee,” he said.

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Six locations

Nespresso currently operates from six locations in Ireland - including three Brown Thomas stores (Grafton Street, Cork and Limerick), and a standalone shop on Duke Street. Most recently it opened a concession in Arnotts and a pop-up stand in the Dundrum Town Centre.

Additionally, the Nestlé-owned brand has been expanding its business-to-business offering and most recently began selling its coffee in the Michelin-starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin.

Stephane Robin, the restaurant's manager, said the Nespresso range allows them to offer customers "a bespoke coffee drink tailored to their preference".

Nespresso’s recently launched campaign highlights the benefits of sustainably sourced coffee and is - as has been the trend with global food giants - aiming to appeal to a growing consumer appetite for ethically sourced organic products.

Last week, Nestlé continued on its coffee expansion trail by acquiring Blue Bottle in the US, a move which underlines the company's "focus on investing in high-growth categories and acting on consumer trends", according to Mark Schneider, Nestlé chief executive.