President Chain Store Corp (PCSC, 統一超商), the nation’s largest convenience store operator, yesterday said it would introduce new automated coffee machines at some of its outlets to boost coffee sales and operational efficiency.
The company plans to install the machines at 720 of its 7-Eleven outlets by the end of this year to take advantage of opportunities in the coffee sector in Taiwan, where people drink 2.85 billion cups a year, President Chain Store said.
The company had 6,683 stores as of the end of last month, company data showed.
Photo: David Chang/ EPA-EFE
The company said it was replacing the old machines at more than 10 percent of its convenience stores, as coffee shop numbers have grown 1.6 times over the past 10 years, and consumers are placing more emphasis on personalization and premium coffee flavors, the company said.
For example, City Prima specialty coffee is twice as expensive as City coffee drinks, but sales for City Prima have increased more than 40 percent a year, indicating that consumers are willing to pay more for quality, President Chain Store said, citing sales data for medium lattes at 7-Eleven stores.
President Chain Store said it has taken note of the trend, and aims to expand sales and its market share with more co-branded projects and by promoting coffee culture.
The company tested the new coffee machines last quarter and was satisfied with their performance, it said, adding that they are expected to boost sales of specialty coffee by 30 percent this year.
President Chain Store reported record-high monthly revenue last month, with consolidated sales of NT$26.61 billion (US$880.02 million), up 2.38 percent month-on-month and 12.32 percent year-on-year.
The company said it expects revenue to remain healthy this month amid a recovery in consumer spending, coupled with the effect of holiday sales and special back-to-school promotions.
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