SUR Group scales operations
I see Glasgow-based SUR Group committing to 20 additional stores to scale Black Sheep Coffee across the North of England and southern Scotland. This expansion makes the Glasgow-based group the largest franchisee for the London-based specialty robusta operator. SUR Group signed its first franchise agreement in May 2024. The company opened its first store in Glasgow in January 2026. It currently operates six outlets in Glasgow and a single site in Ayr on Scotland’s west coast. The expansion will focus on increasing the footprint in the North of England and southern Scotland.
| Store Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| New store commitment | 20 |
| Stores signed in last 9 months | More than 100 |
| Current Glasgow outlets | 6 |
| Current Ayr site | 1 |
| Total current locations | 7 |
| Date of first agreement | May 2024 |
| Date of first store opening | January 2026 |
Expansion across the North
The brand, a specialty robusta operator based in London, expands its reach through this deal. I find the scale of these agreements significant, as the franchisee has already signed for more than 100 new stores within the last nine months. The Glasgow-based SUR Group, which signed its first franchise agreement in May 2024, currently manages seven total locations, including six outlets within Glasgow and a single site in Ayr on the west coast of Scotland. I note the company’s rapid transition from a single location in January 2026 to a seven-site network. This growth targets the North of England and southern Scotland. The 20 additional stores in this new deal add to the more than 100 new stores the franchisee signed for within the last nine months. I see the 20 additional stores as a way to scale the specialty robusta operator’s presence in the North of England and southern Scotland. I find the 20 additional stores to be a significant addition to the group’s existing six Glasgow outlets and the single site in Ayr. I observe that the 20 additional stores in the North of England and southern Scotland complement the 100 new stores signed within the last nine months.
