We are thinking about selling coffee over the Internet but are having
difficult getting some figures for the size of the market.  I wonder
if you can answer:

1. How much coffee (ground and beans) was sold on the Internet in the
UK last year to consumers?
2. How much coffee (ground and beans) was sold through other channels
in the UK last year?
3. The approximate installed base of domestic espresso machines in the
UK, or the number of espresso machines sold last year.

Thanks

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Request for Question Clarification by claudietta-ga on 13 Jan 2003 00:35 PST

Dear Jim,

Statistics about commerce over the internet are still difficult to
find.  I could help you out with non-Internet statistics on coffee, if
this would interest you just the same.  If I run into the Internet
statistics, I would let you know.

Claudietta

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Clarification of Question by jim1978-ga on 13 Jan 2003 03:26 PST

Hi Claudietta

Offline would be a help.  It has to be UK though.

Thanks

You seem to be stepping into potentially a difficult area, although I
did see one fleeting reference to the “UK espresso revolution”.  It
seems the way to go is with speciality and gourmet products.

“The UK retail market for hot beverages is highly mature and growth
has been negligible. Even at current prices, sales value increased by
only 2.9%, between 1995 and 1999, and, according to trade forecasts,
will actually fall in 2000. In real terms, overall sales decreased by
9.7%, between 1995 and 1999, and also fell in volume, during the same
period.”

however

“The arrival of a ‘café society’ in the UK has gone a long way to
giving hot beverages a more fashionable appeal. UK consumers now
realise that there is much more to coffee than black or white, instant
or ground. People are now more willing to try and enjoy unusual
varieties”

http://www.the-list.co.uk/acatalog/mp15351.html MAPS HOT BEVERAGES
FEBRUARY 2001
This is from a summary of a report that can be purchased. 

A competitor web site  http://www.hasbean.co.uk/welcome.htm