Cafe2U announces plans to establish mobile coffee shop franchises in the US

Following the successful launch of a concept run in the San Diego region of California in June 2010, Cafe2U has announced that it will be seeking entrepreneurs to open the first of its mobile coffee shop franchises in the US.

With 106 franchise partners currently in operation across Australia, and a further 52 mobile coffee shop franchises established in the UK, the company has reported that it will seek US-based investors interested in territory development and franchise sales.

Cafe2U Managing Director Derek Black reports that consumers have so far been very welcoming of the mobile coffee vans and the idea of having espresso-based coffees available at their workplace door, a concept that is unique to the US market.

“We see America as a key market for the brand,” Black says. “The US market represents a mature coffee market with many significant opportunities to stimulate growth.”

Mr Black attributes the success of Cafe2U coffee cart franchises overseas to the flexibility of the franchise model, which has achieved a local growth figure of 30% per year for the past three years, despite the GFC.

“It offers franchisees the freedom to choose their working hours and location within their own exclusive territory. You do not need to have prior hospitality or coffee related experience,” Black says.

As the company expands internationally, negotiations are also underway for the establishment of mobile coffee shop franchises in New Zealand and China.