COFFEE ENTREPRENEUR NEARS 50 STORES

Fast franchisor Zarraffa’s will open its 50th store not long after you read this.

Potential new franchisees are knocking on the door waiting for their opportunity to brew the perfect cup with new sites being indentified, according to founder and CEO Kenton Campbell (pictured).

“We will definitely get there this year. There are 15 to 20 sites under development at the moment with around six stores expected to be opened this year,” says Campbell.

“Generally 25-70 people a week inquire about franchising opportunities and request information, but we have 12-14 people a year seriously looking at entering our system.”

Zarraffa’s Coffee opened five drive-through stores last year, a concept new to the company and the coffee industry with the Worongary store now the star performer in the group.

Campbell says the market has responded positively with ‘three of four’ of the drive-through outlets making up the top five performing stores. Plans are also brewing to add drive-through facilities for up to half of its new stores as expansion plans continue across the country.

“We have a store in Rockhampton, one opening in Mackay and another likely to happen in Townsville. Building at least half of them as drive-throughs is a realistic number as it really depends on the logistics of the site,” says Campbell.

“We’re also looking at expanding further into New South Wales. If an opportunity presents itself in Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide we’ll certainly consider it as that’s where we want to be next. It’s all part of a 10-year national outlook.”

Top Companies Profile 2011: Zarraffa's Coffee
CEO: Kenton Campbell
Revenue ’10: $40 million (approx)
Forecasted growth: 35 per cent
Staff: 26 (head office)
Established: 1996