The Retail Food Group, which counts Gloria Jean’s Coffees and Crust Gourmet Pizza among its high profile brands, has highlighted the $8.8bn global coffee and beverage market as an investment focus for 2016.
RFG is planning a suite of initiatives. Gloria Jean’s Coffees will roll out its drive-through model across Australia following the successful pilot of three locations in New South Wales and Queensland. Typical sites will be travel centre and convenience retail hubs.
Next year will see the commissioning of three international coffee roasting facilities and distribution hubs to complement existing facilities in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
The group’s Los Angeles roasting facility has been re-badged as Di Bella Coffee and with the priority the north American market, the business has appointed a sales and distribution team, and will develop coffee blends more suitable to the American taste.
RFG has also announced plans to expand its Gold Coast head office with the acquisition of adjoining properties. The enlarged site will ultimately serve as the group’s global headquarters.
The plans were announced at the company’s annual general meeting.
Tony Alford, managing director at RFG, said “Insofar as new outlet organic growth is concerned, the company remains comfortably on track to achieve FY16 guidance of 250, and will provide a further update at the time of 1H16 results publication.”
International growth is expected to account for about 50 percent of new outlets in the first half of next year with Malaysian, Turkish and Chinese license territories the focus.
Alford spoke too about the quick service restaurant market, which affects the RFG brands Pizza Capers and Crust Gourmet Pizza.
“Rather than duplicate the ultimately destructive and unsustainable discounting activity occurring within the pizza segment, RFG’s QSR division remains focused on quality products, exceptional service and a retail pricing structure which not only recognises the gourmet nature of the menu offer but derives a sustainable margin to franchisees.”
Alford said reinvigorated menus will be introduced across both pizza chains.