Star Pubs & Bars and Kimbo UK sign exclusive deal

Star Pubs & Bars has negotiated an exclusive coffee supply and support arrangement on behalf of its lessees with Italian coffee roasters Kimbo.

The arrangement with Kimbo guarantees credit for Star Pubs & Bars lessees, with coffee training and on-going support available and allows them to terminate their agreement without penalties.

Lessees will have access to a range of free on-loan machines suited to different types of operation from small to barista models. Kimbo will provide lessees with a choice of premium Italian best in class coffee beans and capsules and access to merchandising.

Angus McKenzie, managing director of Kimbo UK, said: "Kimbo is delighted to have been chosen by Star Pubs & Bars as their preferred coffee partner for the UK market and proud to build on our long-term relationship with the Heineken Group in Europe.

"Pubs already sell in excess of 3.6 million cups of coffee a week. We expect this number to increase exponentially in the coming years as pubs are at the centre of their communities and many have free parking and Wi-Fi. With the coffee shop chains looking to their potential for alcohol licences, our partnership with Star Pubs & Bars could not have come at a better time strategically for licensees, helping them increase their income from business and leisure customers."

Chris Jowsey, trading director of Star Pubs & Bars, added: "Coffee is an increasingly important revenue stream for pubs with excellent profit margins of 80-90% and we want all our pubs to offer real coffee.

"The deal with Kimbo is groundbreaking and changes the dynamic of coffee supply in the leased pub and licensed sector. Our lessees recognise the value of this deal with 150 already expressing interest and we've only just started to tell them about it."