TRENDS
Compared to most other countries in Europe, the UK remains one of the few to favour instant coffee over better quality fresh ground coffee or fresh coffee beans. In 2014, instant coffee continued to be the most popular category, with retail value sales of £1.1 billion. While consumers continue to stay loyal to their favoured brands, the taste and quality of instant coffee is becoming more important. This can be seen with premium instant coffee, particularly microground (also known as whole bean) varieties, such as Nescafé Azera and Kenco Millicano continuing to boost sales. Premiumisation is driving consumers of instant coffee to trade up for quality of taste. Private label entering premium coffee in 2014 is believed to have had a positive effect on the popularity of microground coffee, with consumers of cheaper alternatives trading up to this better quality instant coffee.