Coffee Republic, along with Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Caffee Nero, makes up the "Big Four" UK coffee bar chains.

BBC: Coffee Republic swallows Goodbean

Coffee Republic, a UK-based chain of coffee bars, has cut its losses in half and bought out rival chain Goodbean Ltd.

BBC: Coffee Republic swallows Goodbean

All of Goodbean's cafes will be rebranded as Coffee Republic outlets, Mr Morris added.

BBC: Coffee Republic swallows Goodbean

Shares in Coffee Republic rose 10% to 10.75 pence in afternoon trade in London.

BBC: Coffee Republic swallows Goodbean

The rival company now owns a 10.7% stake in Coffee Republic.

BBC: Stelios warms to coffee bar bid

The announcement comes amid growing competition in the coffee bar market, where the likes of Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Coffee Republic are also attempting to grab market shares.

BBC: Caffe Nero seals Stelios aid in coffee war

Coffee Republic has seen more than 80% wiped off the value of its shares since the start of 2001, as competition in the sector increased and the company lost key management.

BBC: Stelios warms to coffee bar bid

Coffee Republic chief executive Peter Morris said the buying out Goodbean, which owns 19 outlets in the south-east of England, will help the company to post a pre-tax profit by March 2003.

BBC: Coffee Republic swallows Goodbean