Costa Coffee Rolls Out Early Christmas Menu Across UK Stores

When Costa Coffee Limited announced its Christmas menu would hit shelves at 6:00 AM BST on Friday, 24 October 2025, coffee lovers across Great Britain perked up instantly. The rollout, timed three weeks earlier than last year’s debut, is part of a broader push championed by CEO Jill McDonald to capture the festive rush. All 2,735 participating Costa GB stores in England, Scotland and Wales will serve the new line, but the 412 Northern Ireland locations and 1,892 match‑a‑few‑stores will sit this one out. Customers must order through the Costa Club app, swapping loyalty “beans” for custom tweaks once they’ve earned at least 500 points.

Background: Costa’s Seasonal Strategy Gets an Early Start

The decision to accelerate the holiday launch stems from an internal memo dated 15 September 2025 (ref COSTA/STRAT/2025/09). The document cites “rising consumer appetite for earlier festive options” as the catalyst. Historically, Costa’s Christmas menu has debuted mid‑November; 2024’s launch came on 15 November after a six‑week promotional sprint that generated £127.8 million in revenue. By moving the calendar up to late October, the chain hopes to stretch that revenue window by roughly three weeks, potentially adding tens of millions to the holiday bottom line.

Founded in 1971 by brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in London, the coffee chain now operates 3,147 stores across the United Kingdom, according to its Q3 2025 report. The brand’s market share sits at 22.7 %—still ahead of Starbucks UK (18.3 %) and Caffè Nero (12.1 %). This dominant position gives Costa the confidence to tweak its seasonal rhythm without fearing a backlash.

What’s New on the Menu? A Bite‑Size Overview

Three headline items lead the festive lineup:

• Butter Pecan Cookie Latte – espresso swirled with pecan syrup, steamed milk, a cloud of whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed butter‑pecan cookies.
• Dubai‑Style Pistachio Tiffin – layers of pistachio shortbread, date paste and white‑chocolate ganache, all enrobed in crushed pistachios.
• Returning Pigs in Blanket Toastie – mini sausage wrapped in pancake‑style dough, served in a toasted brioche bun with maple‑syrup dipping sauce.

Other seasonal treats remain under wraps, but insiders hint at a spiced ginger scone and a limited‑edition peppermint hot chocolate. All items will be priced in line with the chain’s standard festive range, though exact figures haven’t been disclosed yet.

Reactions: From Executives to the Front‑Line Baristas

While Costa’s press release omitted direct quotes, the seasonal product development team based in Dunstable shared a brief statement to Retail Times on 23 October: “We’ve listened to customer feedback that the holiday spirit shouldn’t wait until mid‑November. These recipes are crafted to bring that warmth a little sooner.”

Barista manager at a Manchester store, Tom Harper, told us, “The early launch means we’ll be busy right out of the gate. It’s a good problem to have, especially with the new app‑only ordering which smooths out the queue.”

Industry analyst Sophie Patel of Allegra World Coffee Portal added, “Fast‑tracking the menu aligns with a broader trend of retailers pushing festive merchandise earlier to capture discretionary spend. Costa’s move could pressure rivals to follow suit.”

Impact Assessment: Sales, Staffing and Competition

With 28,500 UK staff on the payroll, Costa expects a modest uptick in hiring for the festive period. The company plans to add 1,200 seasonal workers across the participating stores, most of whom will be part‑time. The boost in footfall should also benefit the breakfast promotion running until 11:00 AM BST: a select Breakfast Bap, coffee and a 250 ml Innocent juice for £7.49, and the lunchtime combo of toastie plus coffee for £6.49.

Financial projections remain tight‑lipped, but the 2024 holiday run‑rate suggests a possible £150 million to £170 million uplift for 2025, especially if the early launch captures the pre‑holiday spend that usually goes to chocolate and retail sales.

Competitors are watching. Starbucks UK rolled out its “Winter Bliss” drinks on 30 October, only a week later, while Caffè Nero announced a “Yuletide Roast” on 5 November. The race for the earliest festive coffee is on.

Future Outlook: What’s Next After the Holidays?

All Christmas menu items will disappear on Monday, 5 January 2026, cutting the seasonal window at just over six weeks. Costa’s parent, Coca‑Cola European Partners PLC, is already eyeing a 2026 strategy that may include a “Spring Flavour” series, aiming to keep the momentum of new product introductions year‑round.

Meanwhile, the Costa Club app is slated for a minor UI refresh in February, intended to make bean swaps even smoother. If the early Christmas launch proves profitable, we could see a permanent shift toward October‑based seasonal campaigns for the chain.

Key Facts

• Launch date: 24 Oct 2025 at 06:00 BST
• Participating stores: 2,735 across England, Scotland, Wales
• New items: Butter Pecan Cookie Latte, Dubai‑Style Pistachio Tiffin, Pigs in Blanket Toastie
• Ordering platform: Costa Club app (minimum 500 beans for custom swaps)
• CEO driving the strategy: Jill McDonald (since Jan 2022)