Ireland's biggest coffee chain is plotting a leap into Germany
Insomnia says it will have 175 outlets by the end of the year.
IRISH COFFEE CHAIN Insomnia has announced plans to expand into Germany and open several more Irish outlets before the end of the year.
The company, which was founded by Bobby Kerr and Harry O’Kelly in 1997, already has a network of 140 stores across Ireland and the UK. It is the largest coffee chain in the Republic, and the 15th largest Europe-wide.
The latest expansion will see its portfolio of coffee shops increase to 175 by the end of this year and give the brand a foothold in the German market.
Other locations earmarked for new Insomnia joints before the end of the year including Drumcondra, Cavan, Mallow, Belfast and Dublin’s Mary Street.
A spokeswoman for Insomnia would not confirm any locations for the expansion into Germany, but she said the store is expected to open in the final three months of 2017.
The planned roll-out was announced in tandem with the reopening of the chain’s flagship store on St Stephens Green, which has received a retro-themed refurbishment.
Insomnia chief executive O’Kelly said that “having a one-size-fits-all design really isn’t very effective” any more in the coffee trade.
Harry O’Kelly (left) and Bobby Kerr
Insomnia employs 400 people throughout Ireland in its company-owned stores, while another 350 people are employed at its concession and franchised stores.
The latest accounts for several of the Insomnia group’s Irish companies show large accumulated losses still on their books, however they together recorded a combined profit of just under €2 million in 2015 – up from €1.6 million the previous year.
Background
The coffee chain was founded by Kerr – formerly of RTÉ’s Dragons’ Den – and O’Kelly in a Galway bookstore 20 years ago.
Since then, it has grown its network through partnerships with retail brands such as Spar, Penneys, Debenhams, Eason, Heatons and Maxol.
In addition to its network of stores in the Ireland and the UK, Insomnia also has in excess of 350 self-service machines in operation.
