BOB & Berts, the Northern Ireland-based coffee shop chain, has revealed plans to at least double its presence in Scotland this year.

The firm said it will open outlets in Kirkcaldy, Ayr and Stirling, join existing cafes in Falkirk, Dunfermline and Dumfries. And it said it will target further openings as it utilises the £2m investment it raised from the Business Growth Fund (BGF) in 2017.

The chain aims to have 20 outlets in Scotland by 2022, employing 400. Founder Colin McClean believes there is “demand for high-quality, independent food and coffee shops in traditional high street settings.”