Coffee Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | In 1995 in London |
| Founder(s) | Bobby Hashemi and Sahar Hashemi |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Area served | United Kingdom, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe |
| Industry | Restaurants Retail Coffee and Tea Retail Beverages Entertainment |
| Products | Blended Coffee Beans Boxed Tea Made-to-order beverages Bottled beverages Baked Goods Merchandise Milkshakes Smoothies |
| Services | Coffee |
| Employees | 60 (2009) |
| Website | http://www.coffeerepublic.com |
Coffee Republic is a British coffee bar and deli franchise chain founded in 1995 by brother and sister Bobby and Sahar Hashemi, as they were unable to find a quality coffee chain that matched their New York experience and expectations.
Contents |
[edit] History
- 1995
Coffee Republic is founded by brother and sister team Bobby and Sahar Hashemi, opening its first site in London's South Molton Street.
- 1998
The group enters the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) by reversing into Arion Properties. The group grows to 24 branches after opening 17 new sites between March and November and has by now expanded beyond the capital to York, Birkenhead, Newcastle and Manchester.
- 2000
July: Coffee Republic switches from AIM to the full list. At this point, it has 61 coffee bars and cafés and announces plans to open 80 more by 2002.
- 2001
March: Hashemi steps down as chief executive, but continues as a non-executive director. He returns as executive chairman in the summer of 2002.
December: Coffee Republic buys the GoodBean coffee bar chain, gaining 12 outlets in south-east England and seven further sites under construction. The acquisition takes the group to 108 outlets.
- 2002
In July, the group announces plans to halt its expansion programme, sell underperforming bars and launch a strategic business review as annual losses grow. A number of takeover talks ensue with easyGroup, Benjys and Caffè Nero. Benjys’ but all offers are rejected. Coffee Republic sells 13 sites to Starbucks and returns to an AIM listing.
- 2003
August: Coffee Republic unveils a survival plan to convert itself into a New York-style deli-bar chain called Coffee Republic Deli and whittle its numbers down to a core of 50 outlets. It pilots the concept at Baker Street and Exchange Street in London.
- 2004
June: Coffee Republic sells eight outlets in Cardiff and southern England to Caffè Nero.
- 2005
November: The group signs its first franchise deal and ends the year with four franchised outlets. It intends to retain just 10 to 15 bars under company ownership.
- 2006
October: Founder Bobby Hashemi is ousted in a shareholder revolt replaced as chairman by Peter Breach.[1]
- 2007
The company signs a franchise agreement, which will see the brand launched in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and also Turkey.
June: First bar opening in Bulgaria in Burgas.
July: First bar opening in Turkey in Istanbul.
- 2008
May: From 1 May, customers are offered free Wi-Fi across the majority of UK coffee bar estate (10 minutes free then further access subject to purchase). The WiFi is supplied by CommsPort.[2] First bar opening in Malta Airport.
June: First bar opening in Romania in Bucharest.
July: Coffee Republic announces that Steven Bartlett, the former shareholder who ousted the company's founder, Bobby Hashemi, in October 2006, is to step down as chief executive.
August: First bar opening in Kuwait, in Kuwait City.
September: A contactless payment trial launches, a new quick and easy way to pay for purchases of £10 and under using OneTouch payment.
December: A contactless loyalty card trial launches with sQuid.[3]
- 2009
January: First bar opening in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
July: The Company is placed into Administration in early July and trading in shares is suspended. At the end of July, following the closure of 18 Bars, Coffee Republic is bought out of administration by property firm Arab Investment Ltd. The new company trades as Coffee Republic Trading Ltd. [4] [5]
September: Coffee Republic announces that it has secured a deal to open the highest urban coffee shop in the UK, 300m up on the observation deck of the Pinnacle building in London. [6]
[edit] Branches
| Country | Bars | Concessions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
51 | 98 | 149 |
 Bulgaria |
5 | 0 | 5 |
 Kuwait |
3 | 0 | 3 |
 Malta |
2 | 0 | 2 |
 Romania |
1 | 0 | 1 |
 Saudi Arabia |
3 | 0 | 3 |
 Turkey |
1 | 0 | 1 |
 Ireland |
0 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 66 | 99 | 165 |
[edit] Concession Partners
Coffee Republic has 99 Concessions operated by 7 partners: Greene King, Cineworld, Ealing Londis, Travelodge, Shell, Enterprise Inns, London Town Hotels.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Coffee Republic founder Bobby Hashemi ousted | Business | guardian.co.uk
- ^ Coffee Republic to offer free Wi-Fi
- ^ Coffee Republic introduces contactless loyalty card with sQuid
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/5736003/Coffee-Republic-shares-suspended.html
- ^ http://www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/news-article.php?id=9
- ^ http://www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/news-article.php?id=10
- ^ a b Coffee Republic Bar Locations
