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Aussie Coffee Chain Kicks Off NSW Expansion

Announcement posted by M10 Collective 14 Dec 2017


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  **Additional comment and pics available
 
Opening its first store in the NSW market tomorrow, Zarraffa’s Coffee will commence trade in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Belmont North – the first in a number of stores planned for the next 12 months.
 
Zarraffa’s Coffee has long been assessing plans for nationwide expansion in Australia, with Belmont North to be the first location on the cards.
 
“We are beyond thrilled to be taking our next steps in establishing our company as the premier coffee provider in Australia and New Zealand,” said Managing Director Kenton Campbell.
 
“We’ve been building this business steadily with some incredible franchisee partners for over 20 years and we are on the cusp of major strategic expansion in our core territories of Queensland and Western Australia, and now in New South Wales and eventually Victoria and New Zealand.”
 
The $120 million company has led the way in the introduction of hand-crafted, drive thru coffee and the opening of the Belmont North store will unveil another asset the company has long been cultivating.
 
“It is with great pride that the Belmont North store will be run by two ex-store managers, who have worked tirelessly to build the franchise businesses of other owners, while still maintaining the dream to one day run their very own store,” he said.
 
“We have always placed high value on upskilling and bringing people through the system; furnishing them with the opportunity to create a sustainable living by doing what they love.”
 
Belmont North franchisees, Trent Moody and Oliver Humphry, have both relocated to the local area from Zarraffa’s base on the Gold Coast and agree that the greater Newcastle area has a thriving coffee culture that they believe will respond favourably to Zarraffa’s brand of coffee.
 
“We’ve both spent lots of time researching the local market and we are awed by the local coffee culture,” said Franchisee Trent Moody.
 
“I was lucky enough to be a part of the launch of the Zarraffa’s brand in Townsville and the reception to well-made, individualised coffee, available to dine in or drive thru, was phenomenal,” he said.
 
“It’s all about giving people their time back; whether it be with convenience to get them on their way or with the opportunity to take time out and relax – we know our product and service will deliver.”
 
Trent also has another reason to be grateful for a day surrounded by quality coffee.
 
“It was always a great business to be in with 5am starts but my partner and I recently became parents to a baby girl and I’ve discovered that broken sleep and late nights can generally be dulled with a coffee, or two across the day,” he joked.
 
The new store will open Monday 13th December and is located 397 Pacific Motorway Belmont North, just adjacent Bunnings Warehouse.
 
“As with all of our store locations we aim to position ourselves where we can be most easily accessed,” said Kenton.
 
“A great coffee on the way into work in Newcastle, while popping into Bunnings or when fuelling up at petrol station, this is where we can make a difference in someone’s day. The fact that we serve exceptional coffee, well that’s just the foam on the top.”
 
 
More About Zarraffa’s Expansion
 
The Belmont North store is the first location to be opened as part of the company’s Area Developer concept, an exciting move for the company that is designed to further establish its market popularity in Australia.
 
Differing from a Master Franchisor, the concept is common in the franchise industry, with the core function for Zarraffa’s to outsource certain head office functions to a partner in a defined territory.
 
“We have been trading in Queensland since 1996, growing steadily over time and always looking at ways that we could grow responsibly and concertedly in other southern markets,” said Managing Director, Kenton Campbell.
 
“Our move into the WA market in 2012, delivered us some crucial lessons on the tyranny of distance and started us down the path of the Area Developer concept.”
 
Mr Campbell said New South Wales has always been a priority, with a number of key metropolitan and regional sites on the drawing board in 2018/19.
 
With the current 75 + store sites, further Queensland expansion and a strategic plan to open both franchised and corporately owned traditional store and drive thru sites in the coming 24 months, Mr Campbell is not resting on his laurels any time soon.
 
“A few years back I could have walked away from it all, after some long years building the business, I could have just spent the time with my family and enjoyed an easier life. But I’ve found new purpose in it all and in wanting to fulfil a dream I had some two decades ago to build a company that spanned the country, if not the world.”
 
Late last year Mr Campbell purchased – through his property development arm, Tonken Property Group - the defunct 5.4 hectare, $12.5 million OC outlet retail site, located on Distillery Road, Eagleby QLD, in order to provide a base of operations from which to direct and furnish Zarraffa’s expansion plans.
 
“It’s all about future-proofing the business and creating the opportunity for growth by having the space to increase capacity and to execute core business functions all under one roof.”
 
“We are now in a position to house our distribution, head office and roastery operations all in the one site and will be relocating toward the end of the first quarter in 2018.”
 
Hitting the 20-year mark in the retail industry has been a galvanising experience for the company, which started on the back of a $9,000 personal loan.
 
“It’s been an incredible journey to date but nothing has impressed me more than Australia’s love affair with coffee. Zarraffa’s is all about coffee and I’m ready to roll up the sleeves and get started.”
 
 
Zarraffa’s Coffee Belmont North Drive Thru is located - 397 Pacific Motorway, Belmont North NSW
Opening hours: 5am – 10pm, seven days a week
 
For more information about Zarraffa’s Coffee visit www.zarraffas.com
 
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