Cooks Coffee Company Limited Analysis

Overview

Cooks Coffee is building an ethical café group with great cafes owned and run by local people.

Cooks is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX: CCC) and joined the Aquis Exchange in London in November 2022 under the ticker “Cook”.

The Cooks franchise model promotes individual entrepreneurship and local community engagement.

Esquires Coffee was founded in 1993 in Vancouver and Cooks Coffee acquired the global rights (excluding Australia and New Zealand), focusing on operations in the UK and Ireland in 2013.

Cooks Coffee Company is committed to the highest standards of sustainability in all areas of the business with all coffee being derived from certified sources.

As of the end of Sep 2024, Cooks Coffee has 104 outlets spread across its 9 international markets.

Performance

The following information was extracted from Cooks Coffee Company Limited's market update, released on 10 April 2025:

There has been a strong performance in Q4 despite a challenging macro-economic background, and the strength of CCC’s offering continues to be competitive.

Highlights

• Q4 Group store sales up 35% to £9.5m (NZ$21.1m) (2024: £7.1m, NZ$15.8m) reflecting strong trading momentum
• Full year Group store sales of £35.1m (NZ$78.0m) up 26.4% compared to a 53-week trading year in 2024
• Continued growth in operating cash flow as a result of increased demand and strength of estate
• 89 Group sites in the UK and Ireland as at 31 March 2025, up from 75 at 31 March 2024
• Strong pipeline of new stores anticipated in the UK with additional off shore opportunities being explored.

During the period, Esquires was awarded the 2025 EU Business Irish Enterprise Award for Organic Coffee Shop Enterprise of the Year which recognised its commitment to sustainability and its dedication to providing high-quality organic coffee across Ireland and the UK.

In addition, the Group has announced the refinancing of its Group debt with Bank of New Zealand to repay or refinance all existing debt. The improved debt facility significantly reduces the Group’s ongoing finance costs and provides further funding to support the Group's operations and strategic initiatives.

Keith Jackson Executive Chairman of Coffee Company, said: “We are pleased to report another strong period of trading across our business with positive growth. We maintain our commitment to have more than 100 stores operating in the UK and Ireland by the end of this calendar year. As a result of the anticipated growth, the Group’s healthy balance sheet and the strong trading momentum, we are confident about the future prospects of the Group”.