Up to 60 stores in five years – that’s the growth strategy for The Coffee Club’s first major acquisition, the Australian steakhouse chain, Ribs and Rumps. Two new restaurants will open by the end of 2011 in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley and Mackay and there are plans for restaurant sites in Townsville and Wollongong to open in 2012.

The Coffee Club’s founding director, Emmanuel Drivas, said acquiring Ribs and Rumps is a fantastic opportunity for the franchised cafe group to expand its presence. “The Coffee Club is a welcoming and relaxed meeting place for customers and is very family orientated. Ribs and Rumps operate a similar family friendly environment, with both brands appealing to the same customer base. There is a lot of synergy between the two brands and we saw this as an opportunity to expand and take on a new project and offering,” he said.

Ribs and Rumps began 16 years ago in Manly, Sydney, as a restaurant selling premium aged, quality cuts of meat and is now a well-established family brand, having expanded to five stores across Australia and two overseas in South Africa and Dubai. The master franchisee in South Africa and UAE will also be expanding.

Adding Ribs and Rumps to the portfolio is the first step in turning The Coffee Club Group into a multiple brand restaurant company with further brands expected in the near future.

“The acquisition of Ribs and Rumps is a great new direction for The Coffee Club Group. We cannot wait to get the new restaurants underway and see Ribs and Rumps flourish as a loved local and international brand,” said Drivas.

* What will The Coffee Club do with Ribs and Rumps? Find out here