A COFFEE shop owner said he ‘does not stand a chance’ against multinational giants after a move to open another new Starbucks was approved by the council.

Famous coffee makers Starbucks has been given permission by Worcester City Council to move into Shrub Hill Retail Park in a unit left empty by Carphone Warehouse five years ago.

But one independent coffee shop owner said he would never be able to compete against the coffee chains taking over more of the city’s empty units.

Starbucks could be on the verge of opening two new stores in the city soon and Costa Coffee has already confirmed it will be moving into an empty unit in Worcester High Street.

Francini Osorio, owner of Francini Cafe de Colombia in Angel Street said multinational coffee chains did not offer anything unique compared to the city’s independents.

“To be honest I think those small brands are killing independent businesses like supermarkets with the small shops and the internet is killing the high street,” he said.

“I think it’s too much. In my business, we try to give people something that is more unique. Those kinds of brands, I have never found any interest in those brands, you get your coffee, and you walk out. There’s nothing for you to be there.

“We are small businesses and against corporations, we don’t stand a chance. If it was up to me, I would be against it.”

Andy Reynolds, owner of Jaks Coffee in the city centre’s Reindeer Court, said a ‘fixation’ on brands meant many of the city’s young people turned to Starbucks for coffee instead of independents.

“The problem you have got is the internet killed the high street and the only thing you have got about now is pubs, coffee shops and charity shops,” he said. “That’s the three main things people come into town for.

“I think the younger generation is so fixated on brands that Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero and companies like that will always do well.

“I think the older generation would like independent coffee shops. There are loads [in Worcester] and two of my personal favourites are Papas Caffe and Bolero’s. I think they are two of the best in the city.

“I think people just need to support the independent ones. I think the problem is that the city centre is just getting so flooded with coffee shops, that is the issue. I’ve not been affected. It doesn’t seem to affect my trade and I seem to be having a good time where I am.”

The new Starbucks at the retail park off Tallow Hill would be the city’s third with coffee shops already located in The Cross and Cathedral Square.

It could become the city’s fourth with controversial plans to open a new drive-thru, rumoured to be Starbucks, at the Elgar Retail Park in Blackpole still to be decided by the council.

A protest is due to be held against the move on September 16.

In March, coffee chain Costa announced it was set to move into another unit in Worcester High Street which was last used by Paperchase before the stationery shop went into administration.