Ground Espresso expands

Coleraine based coffee chain Ground Espresso is opening its 14th store in Northern Ireland with an investment of £150,000.

Ground Espresso, owned by Coleraine couple Darren and Karen Gardiner, will create 15 new jobs when it opens up in Magherafelt next month.

The chain will then employ 150 people.

A spokeswoman for the comapny said that the new store opening comes as itsannual turnover grew by around one third in the last year.

The company opened its first store in Coleraine and has developed a partnership with retailer Next, opening concessions in its larger stores. The company also has a thriving store in Ballymoney

Regional manager Jonny Ross said: “We have had a fantastic year so far.

“Our newest stores from Dublin to Derry are thriving.

“We put this down to support from the local consumers, who are driving independent retail outlets in our towns and cities”.

Earlier this year it announced three new stores with Next plc including Lisnagelvin Retail Park, Londonderry, Enniskillen and Bangor’s Bloomfield.

Mr Ross said the company had been able to capitalise on consumer trends.

“Consumers are bucking the trend of going to the high street stores and opting for local independents, and this may well be because consumers now know their coffee,” he said

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