The Coffee Club – two decades of excellent coffee

Sarah Stowe

This year one of Australia’s largest locally owned cafe groups, The Coffee Club, celebrates 20 years of Good Food, Great Service and Excellent Coffee.

From a single store, which opened in November 1989 at Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier, to more than 220 outlets throughout Australia and another 26 in New Zealand and Thailand, The Coffee Club has established itself as an iconic household name and preferred venue for millions of coffee drinkers throughout the Asia Pacific region.

The Coffee Club concept was born after Brisbane-based businessmen Emmanuel Drivas and Emmanuel Kokoris searched in vain one evening for a cup of coffee. It was after this unsuccessful mission to find a late night coffee that the pair hatched a new business venture: The Coffee Club. Their idea was to create more than just a place where people could meet for coffee; it was to provide an all-round dining and cafŽ experience that was casual yet sophisticated, stylish yet affordable.

Under the guidance of the founding Directors, Emmanuel Drivas and Emmanuel Kokoris, and third Director, John Lazarou (who was also Manager of the first Eagle Street Pier store), The Coffee Club has become one of Australia’s fastest growing and well recognised cafŽ groups.

Franchises are based in high profile sites in two distinct store layouts: The Coffee Club and The Coffee Club CafŽ Bar Restaurant, which are both committed to delivering the highest standards of food, beverages and service in a vibrant and friendly setting.

Industry recognition

Over the years The Coffee Club has established itself as a franchising industry leader with the group and individual Franchisees regularly winning awards including 2008 Franchisor of the Year (food) and mention yet again in BRW’s Fast Franchises for 2009.

Future plans for The Coffee Club detail significant overseas expansion with one of Thailand’s largest resort and fast-food operators, Minor International.

The move and affiliation with Minor allows The Coffee Club to expand its outlets overseas into China, Dubai and other countries in the Middle East where Minor already has a strong operational presence.

Community involvement

When it comes to giving back to the community, The Coffee Club takes its corporate social responsibility very seriously. On a national level The Coffee Club has dedicated itself to the ‘Changing Children’s Lives’ initiative which supports Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia (CHFA) in generating breakthrough treatments and cures to make a difference in the lives of sick and terminally ill children in Australia. Local store marketing and major national initiatives are aimed at supporting this cause, with a percentage of sales from every 200 gram take home coffee tin going to the charity.

In an effort to join the world-scale for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production, The Coffee Club has invested in one of the largest certification programs in the world, UTZ Certified. The UTZ Certified program is the credible assurance that your coffee was produced with care for people and the environment. On July 1, 2009, The Coffee Club will officially guarantee that the beans in every cup of coffee served in its stores has been grown using sustainable methods.

The group also donated in excess of $45,000 for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Corporate sponsorship partners, including the Brisbane Roar, Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Marathon and WA Telethon just to name a few, have also helped to align The Coffee Club brand with its local community.

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Company name: The Coffee Club

Contact: Scott Chapman

Phone: 07 3010 3000

Email: schapman@coffeeclub.com.au

Website: www.wherewillimeetyou.com