The first step along the road to opening up about 600 Gloria Jean’s Coffees outlets in China over the next 15 years has been taken with the appointment of Dash Brands Limited, as a Chinese master franchise for the prosperous north and east of the country. The company also acts for Subway in Shanghai, the city which will be the first focal point for the coffee brand’s development program, with the initial store planned for an opening in about six months time.

The surrounding Pearl Delta Region will be next up for develoment before a broader expansion is launched with 30 stores planned for opening by the end of 2010. China’s capital, Beijing, is expected to have its first such coffee outlet launched before Chinese New Year in 2010.

Executive chairman of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Nabi Saleh said “China represents a truly enormous opportunity for the Gloria Jean’s Coffees brand as one of the fastest developing economies in the world. We believe key to our success in this market is finding the right partner to take on the Master Franchise Agreement, which is why we have invested significant time and resources in our selection process.

“Dash Brands is an organisation that not only has significant experience in opening and operating an international franchise in this market but has also shown the serious long term commitment and shared vision, mission and values that we are looking for in a partner.

“Gloria Jean’s Coffees International’s efforts to recruit master franchise partners for the Greater China Region are ongoing and it has plans to identify qualified and experienced partners for provinces across the South and South-West region of China and in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“China is becoming an increasingly sophisticated market for international brands and new Western cultural influences. We believe Gloria Jean’s Coffees’ introduction of a superior specialty coffee experience will be warmly welcomed in this market,” Saleh said.

He is confident that successful expansion into Shanghai and Beijing will allow the brand to attract additional partners in the South as well as in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The move into China follows the introduction of Gloria Jean’s Coffees into India less than 18 months ago. The brand now has 915 stores worldwide and 367 master franchise agreements.