Black Sheep Coffee Locks In 20-Store Franchise Deal Across Northern England

Black Sheep Coffee has signed a franchise development agreement guaranteeing a minimum of 20 new stores across West Yorkshire and the Northern Counties, including Northumberland, Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. The roll-out is expected to create around 300 jobs over the next five years.

The deal, announced on 1 November 2026, hands the territory to SUR Group, Black Sheep Coffee's largest franchise partner by store numbers. SUR joined the network in May 2024 and already runs seven Black Sheep Coffee stores across West Scotland, including sites in Glasgow and Ayr.

That's a fast climb for a partner that joined less than two years before signing a 20-store territory deal. The new territory will sit alongside the brand's two existing stores in Leeds and push Black Sheep Coffee into communities that haven't encountered the brand yet.

What formats will the new stores take?

SUR Group will consider a range of formats and locations: high streets, retail parks and drive-thrus. The flexible approach is designed to make the offering accessible to existing customers and first-time visitors alike.

Tariq Din, Business Development Director at SUR Group, will lead the roll-out. He said: "We've spent the last couple of years learning what makes a Black Sheep store work: the right product, the right location and above all, the right team providing a great customer experience. We'll be looking at everything from high streets to drive-thrus, and we want to hear from landlords with access to high footfall locations."

That's an open invitation to landlords — and a signal that site acquisition starts now.

Who is driving the expansion?

The expansion runs through two chains of command. On the brand side, co-founders Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth framed the deal as a geographic extension of an existing base rather than a leap into the unknown.

They said: "We're thrilled to build on our presence in Leeds and bring Black Sheep Coffee to even more communities across the North through the opening of at least 20 new stores. SUR Group has been a brilliant franchise partner in Glasgow and Ayr, with a real understanding of what makes Black Sheep distinctive – from our specialty-grade coffee and wider menu to the experience we create in every store."

On the operator side, Suhail Rehman, Multi Brand Franchise Partner at SUR Group, said: "We're proud to be growing our partnership with Black Sheep Coffee. Having seen the brand's potential first-hand, we're excited to take it into new territories and bring the Black Sheep Coffee experience to more customers."

What will the stores sell?

The menu anchor is Black Sheep Coffee's specialty-grade 100% Robusta coffee, positioned alongside its Arabica range. The stores will also carry matcha, food, cold drinks and the brand's distinctive store designs.

The Glasgow-based SUR Group will operate every site in the new territory, consolidating its position as the brand's biggest operator by store count.

The takeaway: a seven-store operator in Scotland has just committed to nearly tripling the network it controls, and landlords across northern England with high-footfall sites now have a named buyer.