JD Wetherspoon takes on coffee chains with 49p hot drinks

by Julia Pearlman, brandrepublic.com, 13 January 2006, 08:00AM

LONDON - Pub firm JD Wetherspoon is taking on the high street coffee chains by cutting the price of its hot drinks from 99p to just 49p to attract commuters on their way to work.

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The promotion has been developed by the pub chain in response to new licensing laws, which mean that pubs can open earlier and close later, resulting in a new range of customers according to Wetherspoons.

Customers can buy cappuccino, latte, mocha, espresso and regular coffee from Italian-made Lavazza coffee machines for 49p until January 18.

After this date, hot drinks will be sold at the permanent price of 69p. The promotion excludes central London and airport outlets.

Wetherspoon is looking to make an impact on the £200m-a-year coffee market and rival chains such as Costa Coffee, Cafe Nero, Pret a Manger, Starbucks and Marks & Spencer Hot Food to Go, many of which charge more than £2 for drinks.

Costa Coffee said it did not see the promotion as a threat, saying that the coffee will not be freshly roasted nor made by an expert who has trained for three years.

John Hutson, Wetherspoon chief executive, said: "I believe that the coffee served in the pub is the same quality as those on offer in the high-street chains like Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero. The difference is that a coffee at The White Ball Inn won't cost a small fortune."

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