Coca-Cola is once again exploring a sale of UK coffee chain Costa Coffee, according to Semafor, citing people familiar with the matter. The company has not confirmed the report. This would be its second try: an initial process launched in late 2025 was called off in January 2026 after private-equity offers fell short of expectations.
Coca-Cola bought Costa from Whitbread in 2018 for US$5.1 billion. The chain runs around 2,700 outlets across the UK and Ireland and employs roughly 20,000 people. After losses in 2023 and 2024, Costa returned to operating profit in 2025, with revenue up 5% to almost £1.3 billion.
It is unclear what price Coca-Cola will seek this time. Meanwhile, Costa has been courting younger customers with iced drinks and matcha — another sign that green tea is earning a firm place on the menus of major coffee chains.
Source: Semafor