The income across all Aroma units since 2010 is almost 8.7m with a contribution before overheads of 1.7m. In 2009, a number of NHS boards decided that Health Facilities Scotland would develop a high street coffee shop owned and operated by NHS Scotland with surplus revenues going back into patient care.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “By offering healthy and fairtrade produce at fair prices, Aroma cafes have proved hugely popular with patients, staff and visitors. All Aroma staff are NHS employees, and all the profits are ploughed back into frontline services. There are a number of new units planned across Scotland, and we are actively looking at expanding the number of Aroma units further.”
There are currently 16 Aroma units in Scotland with one in England operating under licence at Rochdale Infirmary. The different Aroma units include Aroma Cafés, Aroma Rooms, Aroma Convenience and Aroma Community. A further six units are planned as NHS Scotland look to further the brand.