Our coffee drinking habits are always evolving and no one knows that better than Costa Coffee.

Managed by Southfleet firm Goldex Investments Group Limited on a franchise basis, the stores are fast becoming a social hub for the communities they serve.

In some, local groups hire out the coffee shop after hours or a section during the day for activities and meetings.

Established in 2006 and now with more than 350 employees, director Kafeel Khan said that with constant changes in the economic climate, Costa has been able to adapt to meet the needs of the consumer.

Every two months Costa changes its speciality food and drink menu maintaining a variety of products and new flavours.

Although some may be giving up their non-essential luxury items such as their morning coffee, for others that early Costa coffee is a luxury they cannot be without and for these loyal customers there is a loyalty club card offering five points for every £1 spent.

This builds up quickly enabling customers to redeem it to cover the price of any food or drink from the menu.

Mr Khan said: “An example is our London City Airport outlet positioned where we can provide a number of customers with their fuel for the day and is used as a meeting place for friends and family.

“Many of our stores at the end of each working day make donations to their local food banks. Instead of binning food, we believe this is better for the environment and helps out those in need around the local communities.”

As a company, Goldex Investments is dedicated to the welfare and training of employees and encouraging skills and apprentice schemes for staff of all levels.

The company also encourages work placements from local schools throughout its stores.

With the growing success of Goldex Investments in 2014, so far it has opened four new stores, one being in Gravesend, and is looking to open up to six more over the year with building work currently taking place.

Goldex is one of the entrants in this year’s Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are supported by the Messenger. Each entrant gets a free profile in the Messenger newspaper and online.

This year’s award sponsors are Dartford council, Gravesham council, Barnes Roffe, Kent Business School (University of Kent), the KM Group (Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger), Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell and Passmore, the University of Greenwich and Edinburgh House.

Entrants must have their main place of business in the Dartford or Gravesham areas and have been trading for at least a year.

Entry deadline is July 31. Visit www.dgbawards.co.uk or fill in the form on this page.