By Aimee Chanthadavong
The Coffee Club has set its sight to open 100 stores by 2023 in the Middle East after signing licence agreement with Liwa Minor Food and Beverages.
Liwa Minor Food and Beverages is a joint venture between Al Nasser Holdings and Minor Food Group. Al Nasser Holdings operates a multi-disciplined business conglomerate in the United Arb Emitres and six territories in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region of the Middle East (which consists of Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates).
The Coffee Club CEO Jason Ball said signing with the GCC is a milestone for the international growth of the company, with plans to grow to at least 14 countries in the next 10 years and to open the first GCC store next year.
“Expanding our store footprint is a key focus for us, particularly now that we are underway with our brand transformation,” he said.
“International markets play an integral role in these plans and we are excited by the opportunities presented within the GCC states.”
The Coffee Club currently operates in 68 international countries with 46 in New Zealand, 12 in Thailand, four in China, three in Egypt, two in the Maldives and one in New Caledonia. The company also signed a deal in August to expand into Malaysia.
The group’s Ribs & Rumps brand, which it acquired in 2011, is already successfully operating in the Middle East with restaurants in Dubai, UAE and Kuwait.