INTEGRATED SOLUTION
Bakers + Baristas has selected Miko Coffee as its strategic coffee partner under a five-year agreement, to deliver a fully integrated beverage solution across its estate of 62 locations throughout the UK and Ireland.
It follows more than 18 months of collaboration and reflects Bakers + Baristas’ commitment to enhancing its offer. Together, the business’s 62 locations serve around four million cups of coffee every year, making consistency, quality and operational reliability fundamental to the customer experience.
What began with the supply of SHOTT flavoured syrups has evolved into a fully managed partnership, providing Bakers + Baristas with an integrated solution encompassing premium coffee, traditional espresso equipment, barista training, technical support, menu development, bespoke branding, quality assurance and dedicated account management.
The nationwide rollout was completed in just eight weeks across all 62 locations. Miko installed 43 Rancilio Invicta 3-group traditional espresso machines and three 2-group machines, alongside a premium equipment package that includes Eureka Helios 65 and 75 grinders, Eureka Mignon grinders for decaffeinated coffee, Magrini blenders with cold foam jugs, Eureka automatic tampers and Marco hot water boilers. Supported by 30 field engineers, together with a dedicated workshop and service planning team, the programme provides a consistent platform for producing high-quality espresso-based beverages across the estate, with further equipment upgrades planned.
PEOPLE FIRST
Training has been central to the rollout, with Miko implementing its ‘Train the Champion’ programme to equip key team members at each location. It is supported by ongoing quality audits, refresher training and operational reviews.
At the heart of the beverage programme is Puro Fairtrade Organic Coffee. Sourced from smallholder farmers in Peru, Honduras and Ethiopia, it combines exceptional taste with a commitment to sustainability. Through its partnership with the World Land Trust, the brand supports projects that protect threatened habitats and promote sustainable land management, while its Fairtrade-certified coffees help farming communities build sustainable livelihoods.
To complement the range, Bakers + Baristas has introduced Portioli decaffeinated coffee. Roasted in Milan by a family business with more than 60 years of expertise, the business brings authenticity and commitment.
Additionally, Miko has designed bespoke Bakers + Baristas coffee packaging in-house. The collaboration includes marketing support across print, digital and point-of-sale materials and customer communications, highlighting the sustainability story behind Puro Coffee.
HOLISTIC VIEWPOINT
Vikesh Patel, group managing director at Bakers + Baristas, said: “Coffee has always been at our heart, so we knew that if we were going to change it, we had to do it properly. This was not about switching to a different blend; it was about taking a step back and looking at the whole experience, from the farms where our beans are grown, through to the moment a customer takes that first sip.
“Over the last 18 months, we have worked closely with Miko Coffee and reviewed every stage of that journey, investing in better beans and equipment, more training for our teams and stronger quality checks – we believe those details really matter.
“One of the most exciting aspects is the opportunity to work with Puro in supporting a coffee farm in Honduras. It will give us a much closer connection to where our coffee begins, strengthen the story behind every cup we serve and reinforce our commitment to quality, sustainability and the farming communities that make it all possible.
Pier Luigi Marras, sales director at Miko Coffee, added: “We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as Bakers + Baristas’ strategic coffee partner. From the outset, this was about much more than supplying coffee and equipment. It was about working collaboratively to create a coffee programme that reflects the quality of the Bakers + Baristas brand and enhances every customer's experience.
Check out mikocoffee.co.uk and bakersbaristas.com.