Insomnia Coffee Company

Insomnia Coffee Company is an Irish independent coffee chain.[2] The headquarters are in Dublin. The first store location opened in the back of a Galway bookstore in August 1997. The company has over 150 stores and over 400 self-service units in operation around Ireland.[3] Insomnia stores serve both hot and cold drinks, coffee, sandwiches, salads, soups, snacks, cakes and pastries.

Insomnia Coffee Company
IndustryCoffee Company
Founded1997 (Ireland)
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Key people
John Clohisey (Chairman), Harry O Kelly (CEO)
Revenue€30.9 million (2018)
€28.7 million (2017) [1]
OwnerInsomnia Ltd
ParentBHJ Holdings
Websitewww.insomnia.ie

History
Inside Insomnia Killester, Dublin

Insomnia has grown from a single location in a Galway bookstore in 1997 to an estate of 150+ coffee shops [4] with owned stores and franchised stores, through partnerships with SPAR, Eurospar, Mace and Londis as well as other Irish retailers such as Eason, Fresh, Meadows & Byrne, Maxol, and Primark.

In 2003, the company merged with the sandwich company, Bendini & Shaw.[5] In 2005, Insomnia acquired the Perk coffee chain.[6]

From 2006-2017, the company was equally owned by chairman Bobby Kerr, CEO Harry O’Kelly, and John Clohisey. In 2010, O'Kelly was appointed CEO and Kerr became chairman.[7] In December 2017, Bobby Kerr left the business and sold his shares to the other shareholders.[8] That same month, John Clohisey became Chairman, CFO Barry Kehoe joined the Board of Directors and Dara O'Flynn joined as COO.[9][10]

In April 2012, the Insomnia high street franchise was launched. The first franchise store was opened in 2013 in St Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin.

Insomnia at Penneys Swords

In 2015, the company announced a new partnership with Primark, an Irish-based retail chain, which trades in Ireland as Penneys. In 2015, three Insomnia concession stores were rolled out at Penneys in Waterford, Swords and Athlone, with Liffey Valley opening in 2016.

In 2016 a new franchise partnership developed between Insomnia and Maxol, which saw the first store opening in Mulhuddart Service Station in April 2016. In 2018 Insomnia's first coffee drive-thru opened in partnership with Maxol at Maxol Ballycoolin, in the heart of the Dublin Enterprise Zone.

In 2018, Insomnia launched Mission Compostable [11] an integrated instore sustainability programme and marketing campaign which will, by 2021, divert 15 million takeaway coffee cups and 20 million single use items such as plastic straws, plastic cups and plastic cutlery from landfill. Alongside this Insomnia became the first coffee chain to launch a compostable and biodegradable takeaway cup. [12]

Partnerships

Insomnia has partnered with a number of retailers, including Eason, Fresh, Meadows & Byrne, Aramark, Mace, Londis, Maxol, Primark. It also has long standing partnerships with SPAR and EUROSPAR.

Expansion

In 2015, Insomnia expanded to the United Kingdom, with a store opening in Market Harborough. It continued to expand in 2016, opening three more UK stores in Calver, Laceby and Bromley, which was the first of seven stores in partnership with Primark. Currently, Insomnia have 20 stores in the UK, having most recently opened a store in Littleover in partnership with the Central England Co-operative.

Insomnia are known to regularly introduce new product offerings, adapting quickly to customer preferences and market trends.

Coffee and Beverages

Insomnia became the first coffee chain in Ireland to offer 100% Fairtrade Coffee in 2006.[13] Insomnia's Signature Coffee Blend is made up of beans from Colombia, Tanzania, Peru and Sumatra. Insomnia also offer Fairtrade black tea and flavoured teas. In 2018, Voyager, a second coffee blend was introduced - the first new coffee since Insomnia's establishment in 1997.[14] The launch is part of a 5 year plan which will see a new Fairtrade Medium Roast coffee blend introduced each year.

Hot Chocolate
Insomnia Hot Chocolate

Insomnia are well renowned for their Hot Chocolate,[15] made with real Belgian chocolate, which is melted down into a chocolate sauce, whisked with steamed milk and topped with chocolate flakes, marshmallows and whipped cream. In 2020, Insomnia launched a Vegan version of their signature hot chocolate, made from roasted cocoa beans.

In 2019, Insomnia became the first high street coffee chain to introduce Ruby Chocolate in Ireland [16] with the launch of their Ruby Hot Chocolate [17] Ruby is considered the fourth type of chocolate to sit alongside the existing dark, milk and white chocolate offerings.

Bakery

Insomnia offers a wide range of bakery products including Muffins, Scones, Banana Bread, Carrot Cake, Apple Slices, Brownies, Millionaire Shortbreads, Rocky Roads, Hazelnut & Almond Granola Slices and Chocolate Caramel Crispy Square.

Sandwiches

In 2019, Insomnia relaunched their lunch menu which included a limited edition range from guest chef, Chef Adrian Martin. The new menu includes sandwiches, sandwich wedges, bloomers, baguettes, panini, foccacia, flatbreads, thins, toasties, wraps and ciabattas. Other lunch options include salads and soups. [18]

See also

References
  1. https://www.checkout.ie/retail/insomnia-coffee-82487
  2. "The best coffee gets a good roasting every week". Independent.ie. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. "Despite stiff competition, coffee chain Insomnia has plans to double in size". Fora.ie. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  4. Paul, Mark (21 March 2013). "Meet the mentor: Bobby Kerr of Insomnia Coffee Company". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  5. Brennan, Ciaran. "Insomnia pays €2m for Bendini & Shaw". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. "Insomnia Coffee Company pays ?1m for Perk chain". independent. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. Staff, Fora. "'My cancer gave me a life check': Bobby Kerr on why he left Insomnia Coffee". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. Taylor, Charlie. "End of an era as Bobby Kerr moves on from Insomnia". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  9. "Bobby Kerr will depart Insomnia Coffee Company". Business & Finance. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  10. "Bobby Kerr exits Insomnia Coffee Company". Shelflife Magazine. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  11. https://www.newstalk.com/news/compostable-cups-being-rolled-out-across-insomnia-stores-503881
  12. https://www.joe.ie/news/insomnia-have-made-all-of-their-takeaway-cups-100-compostable-630044
  13. http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_10007211.shtml
  14. https://www.fft.ie/insomnia-launches-voyager-coffee-programme/
  15. http://trinitynews.ie/2016/11/a-hunt-for-dublins-best-hot-chocolate/
  16. https://www.fft.ie/insomnia-launches-ruby-hot-chocolate/
  17. https://www.magicmum.com/luscious-smoothness-insomnia-launches-ruby-hot-chocolate/
  18. https://www.joe.ie/life-style/competition-insomnia-lunch-six-months-685407

Further reading
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