Costa Coffee operator MBCC Foods (Ireland) Ltd has secured planning permission for its 12th drive-thru unit in Ireland, advancing a structured operational expansion programme designed to improve customer throughput and service efficiency across its national estate.

RTÉ reported that the latest approval, granted by South Dublin County Council, covers an existing Costa unit at Airton Road Retail Park in Dublin 24, described as part of a much needed upgrade of a location that has been in operation for eight years.

MBCC Foods director Michael Conroy stated that in the last 18 months, Costa has successfully opened four drive-thru units across Ireland, at Portlaoise Retail Park, Blackwater Retail Park in Navan, Great Northern Retail Park Omagh, and Sprucefield Lisburn.

Eight additional planning permissions have been secured at locations including Bray Retail Park, Waterford Retail Park, Drogheda Donore Retail Park, Castlebar Retail Park, Tramore Summerhill Tesco, Clearwater Shopping Centre Finglas, and Enniskillen Lakelands Retail Park.

Conroy noted that approximately 10% of Costa's estate in Ireland is deemed suitable for the introduction of a drive-thru lane, with drive-thru lanes being considered only in suitable environments.

Drive-thru sales, which currently represent under 20% of total sales, are projected to increase by up to 5% with the addition of a dedicated drive-thru lane, with customer transactions and traffic flow described as minimal and manageable.

Conroy noted that compared with operators such as KFC and McDonald's, which typically generate 40–60% of sales through take-out, Costa's drive-thru model operates at a smaller scale, resulting in lower traffic impact.

MBCC Foods opened its first Costa outlet in Cork in 2005 and today employs more than 1,500 people across 150 locations on the island of Ireland.

Access the full details of Costa's Irish drive-thru expansion programme here.