Caffe Bene
 | |
| Company type | Coffee |
|---|---|
| Owner | Sun-Kwon Kim |
| Website | thecaffebene.com |
Caffe Bene is a coffeehouse chain based in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in May 2008 by Sun-Kwon Kim, current CEO of Caffe Bene. Caffe Bene is the largest coffeehouse in South Korea in terms of the number of stores. As of April 24, 2012, Caffe Bene has 760 outlets in South Korea.[1] Caffe Bene made its international debut in New York City in February and opened the second international store in Beijing, China one month later. As of April 26, 2012, Caffe Bene has 3 outlets in China and has signed with 7 countries. As of April 4, 2014, the company counted 945 stores in Korea, 86 stores in the United States, 283 stores in China, 5 stores in Philippines, 5 stores in Indonesia, 4 stores in Saudi Arabia, 2 stores each in Mongolia and Malaysia, and one store each in Cambodia, Singapore, and Japan. The total number of stores continues to grow.[2]
Description
The idea for Caffe Bene came after Sun-Kwon Kim, chairman and CEO of Caffé Bene, traveled to Canada and saw that the local coffee shops there were very popular. He had confidence that he could create a brand that could compete with the cafés he saw.[3] Caffé Bene is designed after European open-air cafés. The word "Bene" in the brand name comes from the Italian word for "good." This brand is combined with the European open-air atmosphere and traditional Korean culture of "Sarangbang".[3]
Like other coffee chains, Caffe Bene sells brewed coffee, hot and cold beverages, pastries, croissants, sandwiches, waffles, gelato, and so forth. In addition, Caffe Bene features Misugaru, which "consists of black sesame seeds, black bean, black and brown rice and barley".[4] According to PR web, Misugaru "is rich in vitamins, calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, folate and selenium".[4] Misugaru drinks are a feature that differentiates Caffe Bene from its competitors such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Ordinarily people drink Misugaru with milk.
Wherever necessary, volunteers rushed to the domestic representative citizens named 'Benebong ". They make their own self-government organizations for working in the community. Young volunteers can active activities and make fun ideas for planning and giving impression. They are selected 100 volunteers annually among membership customers older than 18-year-old.[5]
New York City
Caffe Bene launched its first international store in New York City, on February 1st, 2012. It is located in Times Square in Manhattan and boasts its size of 600 square metres (6,500 sq ft), one of the biggest coffee shops in the area.[6] Caffe Bene "specializes in coffee drinks and Belgian waffles, including savory varieties with bacon and Parmesan in the dough".[7] Caffe Bene Times Square's interior design was inspired by several landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City Subway. According to Caffe Bene, the company used recycled materials for its design.
Los Angeles
Caffe Bene branch opened in Los Angeles in the summer of 2012 located on the ground floor of CGV mall with other famous South Korean cafe competitors such as Paris Baguette and Tom n Toms. It boasts of multimedia projector with K-pop music in addition to their wooden tables and cement floors. In 2013, another Bene launched on Wilshire Boulevard and Berendo Street. Prospects have claimed that the new Bene carried a cozier feel in addition to its high ceilings, similar with the previous Bene except revamped with improved design, structure, and atmosphere.
References
- ^ (April 24, 2012)"승승장구 카페베네…주식시장에서도 통할까?" ("Caffe Bene...Doing Just Fine in the Stock Market?"), 매일경제 (Economic Daily)
- ^ Public website of Caffe bene
- ^ a b Bene History
- ^ a b (March 6, 2012)The caffébene, a New Korean Imported Café at Times Square, Launches Homemade Multigrain Drink, Misugaru Latte. PR Web Cite error: The named reference "PR Web" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ bene volunteer page
- ^ (February. 26, 2012 )토종 브랜드 카페베네 뉴욕 타임스 스퀘어 1호점 오픈 시티신문
- ^ (February. 2, 2012 )A Peek at Seoul-Based Caffe Bene, Now Open in Times Square Grub Street New York