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Is Black Rock Coffee Bar becoming the emerging coffee chain to beat? The Scottsdale, Arizona-based beverage chain reported 9.3% same-store sales growth for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31.

The company’s sales and double-digit revenue growth were driven in large part by 12 new store openings from the prior year period, bringing the emerging chain’s total portfolio to 181 stores. However, Black Rock Coffee Bar has its sights set on a much larger store count and announced a long-term portfolio target of 1,000 stores by 2035.

“Performance across our growth markets highlights the effectiveness of our scalable development playbook and the impact of our strategic initiatives - reflected in another quarter of outperformance by our newest cohort on sales, store-level profit, employee retention, and guest satisfaction,” Black Rock Coffee CEO Mark Davis said in a statement. 

While the company has a lot of competition from emerging and mid-sized beverage brands like Dutch Bros, which recently reported 7.7% same-store sales growth for the fourth quarter, Black Rock Coffee is gaining momentum, highlighting the coffee market’s capacity for diverse competitors.

For the full fiscal year, Black Rock Coffee opened 32 stores, and saw double-digit sales and revenue growth, despite operational income declines.

Looking ahead, the company expects 36 café openings in 2026, as well as same-store sales growth in the mid-single digits. 

“Looking into 2026, our momentum through year-end combined with our continued focus on a differentiated guest experience, people first culture and disciplined expansion strategy, gives us confidence in our outlook and the long-term value we are building for shareholders,” Davis said. 

Black Rock Coffee reported revenues of $53.6 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, a 25.3% increase from the prior year period. Net income grew 137.4% to $1.6 million, as compared to a net loss of $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024.

Contact Joanna at joanna.fantozzi@informa.com