The Coffee Club
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| Industry | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Founded | Brisbane, Australia (November 2, 1989) |
| Founder(s) | Emmanuel Kokoris, Emmanuel Drivas, John Lazarou. |
| Headquarters | West End, Queensland, Australia |
| Number of locations | 274 stores (2011) |
| Area served | Asia-Pacific |
| Key people | James Nixon-Smith (CEO), Kym Warner (CFO) |
| Products | Coffee, modern Australian cuisine |
| Website | coffeeclub.com.au |
The Coffee Club is a coffeehouse-style café chain. Originally created in 1989 as a place to get "an excellent coffee",[1] the concept now includes cafébar/restaurant stores with expanded menus and full table service.
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[edit] History
In 1989, friends Emmanuel Kokoris and Emmanuel Drivas were searching for a late-night cup of coffee. Their unsuccessful attempt led them to plan a new business venture: The Coffee Club.[1]
The first store opened on 2 November 1989 at Eagle Street Pier in Brisbane (directly opposite the site of the successful World Expo 88), under the management of businessman and former hairdresser John Lazarou. Lazarou also managed the next six stores that the company opened, before joining the Kokoris/Drivas partnership as a co-director.[2]
In October 2007, Thai company Minor International announced it would acquire a 50% stake in The Coffee Club.[3] The move not only advances plans to expand The Coffee Club into Asia and the Middle East[4] but also assists expansion of brands such as Swensen's ice creams into Australia.[3] The first Thai store opened in December 2008,[4] with the chain's first Chinese store opening near Hong Kong in June 2011.[5]
In August 2010, John Lazarou visited Athens for meetings with potential partners regarding the company’s plans for expansion into Greece and further afield across Europe.[1]
In September 2011, The Coffee Club group acquired Australian steakhouse chain Ribs And Rumps, which Drivas says is a family-friendly brand "appealing to the same customer base" as The Coffee Club.[6]
[edit] Responsible business practices
In 2009, The Coffee Club joined the UTZ Certification program,[7] promoting fair and sustainable coffee production.[8]
In 2011, The Coffee Club joined the RSPCA's "Choose Wisely" campaign,[9] promoting 'humane' food production.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Anastasios Papapostolou (22 August 2008). "Greek-Australian "Coffee Experts" are Looking to Enter the Greek Market". Greek Reporter. http://greece.greekreporter.com/2010/08/22/greek-australian-coffee-experts-are-looking-to-enter-the-greek-market. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "The Kings of Java", Neos Kosmos, 13 Oct 2009, retrieved 25 Sep 2011.
- ^ a b Josh Robertson, "Coffee Club Grows and Grows", The Courier-Mail, 22 Oct 2007, retrieved 25 Sep 2011
- ^ a b "The Coffee Club launches first Asian franchise", Franchising magazine, 14 Nov 2008, retrieved 17 Oct 2011
- ^ Jayne Munday, "Coffee Club takes its brew to China", Queensland Business Review, 28 Jun 2011, retrieved 17 Oct 2011
- ^ Jessica Burke, "Coffee Chain Buys Up Steak Houses", Food Magazine, 12 Sep 2011, retrieved 25 Sep 2011
- ^ "More About Our UTZ CERTIFIED Coffee", The Coffee Club, retrieved 15 Oct 2011
- ^ "UTZ CERTIFIED - Registered Members", retrieved 15 Oct 2011
- ^ "The Coffee Club Joins Choose Wisely", Choose Wisely, 01 Aug 2011, retrieved 25 Sep 2011
