Australian coffee franchise The Coffee Club has just marked 20 years in business. Today the franchise network employs more than 6,000 employees and serves more than 40 million coffees each year to coffee-lovers across Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.

Directors Emmanuel Drivas, Emmanuel Kokoris and John Lazarou opened the first site on Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane, on Monday November 2 1989.

The Coffee Club plans to expand into China in 2010, after its successful launch of three cafes in Thailand earlier this year. Plans to launch in Dubai are also well advanced and at home the company recently opened in the Townsville Willows Shopping Centre bringing the portfolio to 242 stores.

Generating more than $260 million in revenue in 2008/09, the Coffee Club has opened 34 franchises in the past year and aims to open 25 further outlets in 2010.

In June this year, Minor International, one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region with more than 1,000 restaurants and 27 hotels, bought a 50 per cent stake in company.

John Lazarou said this has been the key to The Coffee Club’s ongoing success and international expansion. “Our partnership with Minor International will enable The Coffee Club’s expansion well into the future. I have visions of landing in countries around the world and being welcomed at the airport by a The Coffee Club cafe – that dream is now within reach” he said.