Caf 2UÕs mission is to take great quality espresso-based beverages to non-traditional locations. Since developing into a franchise system in 2004 from a humble one-man, one-van operation on SydneyÕs northern beaches, Cafe2U has become one of the fastest-growing business concepts in the nation with 45 franchises in NSW alone. Caf 2U now has multiple franchisees in Queensland and the ACT and two years ago the company infiltrated the ultra-competitive Melbourne coffee market. Caf 2U currently has 10 franchises in Victoria and has since expanded into Western Australia and South Australia
A chance meeting three years ago between franchise founder and CEO Andy Simpkin and a British expat working in Sydney opened the way for Caf 2U to feed the coffee cravings of the United Kingdom.
“Tom Acland approached me about taking the concept to the UK,” Simpkin said. “There are now 46 franchises throughout the UK, including Scotland, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland. The next countries we have targeted are the US and South Africa,” he said.
More than 100 franchises
Since its 2006 listing by the Australian Financial Review as one of the seven top franchises in Australia (when there were 60 franchises locally and 15 in the UK), Caf 2U has added another 70 franchises taking the total to 130.
This equates to over 5 million cups of espresso coffee a year, a figure that is only the tip of the iceberg as the company continues to make big inroads overseas.
When they arenÕt providing “nine to fivers” a range of espresso options as well as ice-blended frappes, gourmet sandwiches, salads and sweet bakes, Caf 2U franchisees service sporting fields and events around the country.
“Our mission is to take great quality espresso-based beverages to non-traditional locations. So we go to office buildings, sporting events, corporate functions, school fetes; basically anywhere where a more traditional solution is not available,” Simpkin said.
“In January 2008, we celebrated 100 franchises worldwide, but there are other frontiers to explore including right here in Australia,” he said. “ There are plenty of available territories out there for interested suitors.
“Most territories were designed to be large enough that they can divide their territory and sub-lease, buy a second van and hire managers for that new territory. One franchisor in Queensland has three territories and has hired a manager for each one. So there is huge potential for multi-franchising in our network.”
New regional focus
Recent developments include a restructure of in-field franchisee support to include regional focus and increase on-the-road support, Simpkin explained. Entering the exploding coffee industry may seem daunting for many people, whether they have been in the hospitality industry or not.
A Cafe2U mobile caf negates all of these concerns and allows the franchisee to concentrate on building relationships with their customers and making great espresso coffee. Cafe2U franchisees generally refer to their “friends”, not their customers.
“A typical day for a franchisee sees them make around 20 to 25 stops and serving around 150 coffees. Our system is built on weekday success, so that any weekend bookings are an added bonus,” Simpkin added.
Cafe2U is a member of both the Franchising Council of Australia and IFA and is HACCP accredited for Food Safety Management.
FRANCHISE INFORMATION
Company name: Cafe 2U
Contact: Alan Biddle
Phone: 1300 CAFE2U (1300 223 328)
Email: franchises@cafe2u.com.au
Website:www.cafe2u.com.au