28th March 2008
A new Coffee Republic Deli outlet is due to open in West Kensington in the coming weeks.
94 North End Road, West Kensington, London W14 9EX
www.gumtree.com/london/48/22023248.html
CR and McLeish to take a bite out of England
24th March 2008
By William Lyons
www.scotsman.com
McLEISH Brothers, the fast-growing chain of New York-style delicatessens, is planning expansion into England in a bid to grow 10 times its size within five years.
Stanley Morrice, who took over the Dundee-based chain in 2006, has given the go-ahead for an enlargement understood to be worth around £11m that will see it open more than 100 stores in the UK by 2014.
The move comes on the back of an aggressive expansion drive in Scotland, where it plans to open 25 stores by the end of this year.
Morrice, who came up with the idea for the chain after visiting his cousin in New York, said the first phase would see the firm open a central kitchen in Birmingham where it can service the catchment areas of London and Manchester.
Morrice said: "It's an aggressive expansion. The response from the public has beaten all our expectations.
"We have ambitious plans to grow to at least 25 stores by the end of this year and have legally tied up new sites in the centre of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
"By the end of 2008 we will be ready to move into England and we are already looking at creating a central hub in Birmingham."
Later this year Morrice will open a new headquarters in Dundee that will house around 30 office staff and an investment of up to £4m will provide state-of-the-art kitchens for 50 chefs and food preparation employees. The chefs produce their own meals range including Chinese, Indian, Italian, other European, traditional British and Scottish cuisine that is sold throughout the chain.
Morrice previously ran Aberness, which operated more than 120 convenience stores throughout Scotland, but became frustrated at being unable to compete with larger chains on ready-to-eat or take-home meals.
In 2006 he bought out McLeish, which then had just four stores in Dundee, Broughty Ferry and Glenrothes, and teaming up with John von Sprekelsen, former non-executive chairman of confectionery giant Thorntons, raised £5.5m of private equity to grow the chain.
As well as serving fresh food Morrice is also keen to grow its whisky portfolio and is planning to introduce his own label into the market very soon.
"We have been taken totally by surprise with the sales of our malt whisky," he said. "Later this year we will be bottling our own whisky which we plan to sell throughout the chain."
The firm has also signed a franchise deal with Coffee Republic that will see the coffee shops have an outlet in all its stores.
The news follows announcements of expansion plans from coffee shop chains including Costa and Scottish brand Beanscene. The latter wants to launch a further 25 outlets in Scotland over the next 18 months.
The coffee shop market is forecast to reach £691m by 2009. This has precipitated an influx of imitators from the high street. McDonald's has also been getting in on the act.
But branded food-focused players such as Pret A Manger and EAT have grown rapidly in recent years and are looming in the background waiting to snatch market share.
Allegra Strategies says these "food-focused" outlets are growing at 6.4% per year and they can certainly compete on price. A quick comparison shows that whereas a cup of coffee costs on average £2.20 at Caffè Nero and £2.19 at both Costa and Starbucks, it comes in at only £1.70 at EAT and £1.79 at Pret.
By William Lyons
www.scotsman.com
McLEISH Brothers, the fast-growing chain of New York-style delicatessens, is planning expansion into England in a bid to grow 10 times its size within five years.
Stanley Morrice, who took over the Dundee-based chain in 2006, has given the go-ahead for an enlargement understood to be worth around £11m that will see it open more than 100 stores in the UK by 2014.
The move comes on the back of an aggressive expansion drive in Scotland, where it plans to open 25 stores by the end of this year.
Morrice, who came up with the idea for the chain after visiting his cousin in New York, said the first phase would see the firm open a central kitchen in Birmingham where it can service the catchment areas of London and Manchester.
Morrice said: "It's an aggressive expansion. The response from the public has beaten all our expectations.
"We have ambitious plans to grow to at least 25 stores by the end of this year and have legally tied up new sites in the centre of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
"By the end of 2008 we will be ready to move into England and we are already looking at creating a central hub in Birmingham."
Later this year Morrice will open a new headquarters in Dundee that will house around 30 office staff and an investment of up to £4m will provide state-of-the-art kitchens for 50 chefs and food preparation employees. The chefs produce their own meals range including Chinese, Indian, Italian, other European, traditional British and Scottish cuisine that is sold throughout the chain.
Morrice previously ran Aberness, which operated more than 120 convenience stores throughout Scotland, but became frustrated at being unable to compete with larger chains on ready-to-eat or take-home meals.
In 2006 he bought out McLeish, which then had just four stores in Dundee, Broughty Ferry and Glenrothes, and teaming up with John von Sprekelsen, former non-executive chairman of confectionery giant Thorntons, raised £5.5m of private equity to grow the chain.
As well as serving fresh food Morrice is also keen to grow its whisky portfolio and is planning to introduce his own label into the market very soon.
"We have been taken totally by surprise with the sales of our malt whisky," he said. "Later this year we will be bottling our own whisky which we plan to sell throughout the chain."
The firm has also signed a franchise deal with Coffee Republic that will see the coffee shops have an outlet in all its stores.
The news follows announcements of expansion plans from coffee shop chains including Costa and Scottish brand Beanscene. The latter wants to launch a further 25 outlets in Scotland over the next 18 months.
The coffee shop market is forecast to reach £691m by 2009. This has precipitated an influx of imitators from the high street. McDonald's has also been getting in on the act.
But branded food-focused players such as Pret A Manger and EAT have grown rapidly in recent years and are looming in the background waiting to snatch market share.
Allegra Strategies says these "food-focused" outlets are growing at 6.4% per year and they can certainly compete on price. A quick comparison shows that whereas a cup of coffee costs on average £2.20 at Caffè Nero and £2.19 at both Costa and Starbucks, it comes in at only £1.70 at EAT and £1.79 at Pret.
FIve more CR Delis set for Ireland in next 12 months
24th March 2008
HIGH FLYERS
By Staff reporter, The Irish News online
18/03/08
Siobhan Mooney, Coffee Republic’s Master franchisee for Northern Ireland and the Republic is responsible for bringing the premium international brand to Northern Ireland with the recent launch of the flagship Coffee Republic Deli at the Abbeycentre. A second deli will open in Strabane in April with an additional five outlets launching across the island of Ireland over the next 12 months. To read interview click here.
HIGH FLYERS
By Staff reporter, The Irish News online
18/03/08
Siobhan Mooney, Coffee Republic’s Master franchisee for Northern Ireland and the Republic is responsible for bringing the premium international brand to Northern Ireland with the recent launch of the flagship Coffee Republic Deli at the Abbeycentre. A second deli will open in Strabane in April with an additional five outlets launching across the island of Ireland over the next 12 months. To read interview click here.
CR and McLeish Bros to open in Edinburgh's financial district
22nd March 2008
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY
www.scotsman.com
A NEW York-style delicatessen, a coffee shop and a chocolatier are to open in Fountainbridge as the expansion of the city's financial district continues.
Scottish deli firm McLeish Brothers and coffee chain Coffee Republic have secured the ground floor space at the £50 million Lochrin Square development. Chocolate retailer Thorntons will also set up a franchised shop.
The new retailers are expected to open at the former Scotmid headquarters in April, around the same time as Bank of Scotland Corporate moves into its new base on the site.
Business leaders today claimed the move would bring more of a "Venice lifestyle" to the canalside area around the former Fountain Brewery.
The Lochrin Square office development is now on the verge of full capacity, only four months after it was completed. David Robinson, development director at Gladedale Capital, which worked on the project as a joint venture with Scotmid, said: "McLeish Brothers will provide the perfect retail complement to the corporate tenants already at Lochrin Square.
"It's a fantastic result to have the final space in No.1 Lochrin Square snapped up less than four months after practical completion.
Dundee-based McLeish Brothers is to take a 15-year lease, worth £90,000 a year, as it continues its Scottish expansion.
Coffee Republic announced its return to Scotland last year. It has an espresso bar at FountainPark and is planning a unit in St Andrew Square Gardens.
As well as HBoS, which recently leased 62,000 sq ft of space at No.1 Lochrin Sq
uare, legal firm Biggart Baillie LLP and financial services support company Watson Wyatt have also moved to the block.
Stanley Morrice, managing director of McLeish Brothers, said: "Lochrin Square is a marvellous development and its location as well as its quality, infrastructure and general spec, made it the ideal choice for us."
The new deals were also welcomed by business leaders. Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said:
"There is no doubt the rejuvenation of the Lochrin Basin is one of the most welcome developments in Edinburgh. It brings that Venice lifestyle that changes it from an undesirable nightspot to a place people want to be."
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY
www.scotsman.com
A NEW York-style delicatessen, a coffee shop and a chocolatier are to open in Fountainbridge as the expansion of the city's financial district continues.
Scottish deli firm McLeish Brothers and coffee chain Coffee Republic have secured the ground floor space at the £50 million Lochrin Square development. Chocolate retailer Thorntons will also set up a franchised shop.
The new retailers are expected to open at the former Scotmid headquarters in April, around the same time as Bank of Scotland Corporate moves into its new base on the site.
Business leaders today claimed the move would bring more of a "Venice lifestyle" to the canalside area around the former Fountain Brewery.
The Lochrin Square office development is now on the verge of full capacity, only four months after it was completed. David Robinson, development director at Gladedale Capital, which worked on the project as a joint venture with Scotmid, said: "McLeish Brothers will provide the perfect retail complement to the corporate tenants already at Lochrin Square.
"It's a fantastic result to have the final space in No.1 Lochrin Square snapped up less than four months after practical completion.
Dundee-based McLeish Brothers is to take a 15-year lease, worth £90,000 a year, as it continues its Scottish expansion.
Coffee Republic announced its return to Scotland last year. It has an espresso bar at FountainPark and is planning a unit in St Andrew Square Gardens.
As well as HBoS, which recently leased 62,000 sq ft of space at No.1 Lochrin Sq
uare, legal firm Biggart Baillie LLP and financial services support company Watson Wyatt have also moved to the block.
Stanley Morrice, managing director of McLeish Brothers, said: "Lochrin Square is a marvellous development and its location as well as its quality, infrastructure and general spec, made it the ideal choice for us."
The new deals were also welcomed by business leaders. Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said:
"There is no doubt the rejuvenation of the Lochrin Basin is one of the most welcome developments in Edinburgh. It brings that Venice lifestyle that changes it from an undesirable nightspot to a place people want to be."
CR's UK & Ireland coverage via CineWorld
14th March 2008
The image below provides some idea of Coffee Republic's domestic coverage via the CineWorld link-up, once all of the 73 recessions are rolled out. Cineworld is also investing in its portfolio - opening more cinemas throughout 2008 and 2009.
Click on image to enlarge.
The image below provides some idea of Coffee Republic's domestic coverage via the CineWorld link-up, once all of the 73 recessions are rolled out. Cineworld is also investing in its portfolio - opening more cinemas throughout 2008 and 2009.
Click on image to enlarge.
New Openings Galore!
14th March 2008
This week we have great pleasure in welcoming the following new stores to our fleet; Coffee Republic Served Here at Travelodge, an exciting new trial for Coffee Republic and Travelodge situated at their City Road Hotel, in east London. Coffees and other CR favourites will be available all day, and a specially selected deli menu between 7am and 5pm.
We are also very excited to announce the opening of our first store in Dubai with the Paris Group, our third concession with the McLeish Brothers in Edinburgh and also in Scotland we have the pleasure of welcoming new franchisee Vijay Lakhanpal, who opened his doors to the public on Friday 14th March in Merchant Square, Merchant City, one of Glasgow's most prestigious locations, just minutes away from the city's busy shopping centre - with so many Coffee Republic's to choose from why not pop in and sample our delights for yourself!
www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/news
This week we have great pleasure in welcoming the following new stores to our fleet; Coffee Republic Served Here at Travelodge, an exciting new trial for Coffee Republic and Travelodge situated at their City Road Hotel, in east London. Coffees and other CR favourites will be available all day, and a specially selected deli menu between 7am and 5pm.
We are also very excited to announce the opening of our first store in Dubai with the Paris Group, our third concession with the McLeish Brothers in Edinburgh and also in Scotland we have the pleasure of welcoming new franchisee Vijay Lakhanpal, who opened his doors to the public on Friday 14th March in Merchant Square, Merchant City, one of Glasgow's most prestigious locations, just minutes away from the city's busy shopping centre - with so many Coffee Republic's to choose from why not pop in and sample our delights for yourself!
www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/news
CR Deli open on The Strand, London
10th March 2008
Serving it up on the Strand
Coffee Republic is excited to be back on the Strand with Khaled and Hani who had the pleasure of opening their new Coffee Republic on Monday 3rd March. The site marks a return to the Strand for Coffee Republic after the closure of a previous site there in December 2006.
www.coffeerepublic.co.uk
Coffee Republic, 79a The Strand, London, WC2R 0DE.
Serving it up on the Strand
Coffee Republic is excited to be back on the Strand with Khaled and Hani who had the pleasure of opening their new Coffee Republic on Monday 3rd March. The site marks a return to the Strand for Coffee Republic after the closure of a previous site there in December 2006.
www.coffeerepublic.co.uk
Coffee Republic, 79a The Strand, London, WC2R 0DE.
CR to open in Perth, Scotland
10th March 2008
Perth mall attracts retailer trio
Publication date: 11 January 2008
BAE Systems Pension Funds Trustees, advised by Kitchen La Frenais Morgan and Reith Lambert, has let three shops at St John’s Shopping Centre in Perth to Jane Norman, Coffee Republic and 3 Mobile.
http://www.propertyweek.com/
Perth mall attracts retailer trio
Publication date: 11 January 2008
BAE Systems Pension Funds Trustees, advised by Kitchen La Frenais Morgan and Reith Lambert, has let three shops at St John’s Shopping Centre in Perth to Jane Norman, Coffee Republic and 3 Mobile.
http://www.propertyweek.com/
CR to open in Slough
10 March 2008
The market in minutes - Berkshire
Article dated: 01 Feb 2008
By Aditi Shah
Fashion retailer Next will open a flagship store at Criterion Capital’s Queensmere Observatory shopping centre in Slough next week.
Next will join Primark, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Empire, Virgin Active, H&M, New Look, Footlocker and TK Maxx on Curzon Mall in the centre.
Selling womenswear and childrenswear at ground-floor level, and menswear and homeware at the lower-ground level, Next is relocating from its 3,500 sq ft High Street store.
Criterion Capital has just let unit 25 to Gloria Jeans and has units under offer to Coffee Republic and Nando’s. Cushman & Wakefield is the letting agent.
Criterion Capital expects to submit a planning application early this year to expand Queensmere Observatory opposite the Tesco Extra in Slough, from 595,000 sq ft to 650,000 sq ft and build 500 flats.
A planning application for a new 20,000 sq ft store at the west end of the Queensmere Centre was heard by Slough Planning Committee this month.
The market in minutes - Berkshire
Article dated: 01 Feb 2008
By Aditi Shah
Fashion retailer Next will open a flagship store at Criterion Capital’s Queensmere Observatory shopping centre in Slough next week.
Next will join Primark, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Empire, Virgin Active, H&M, New Look, Footlocker and TK Maxx on Curzon Mall in the centre.
Selling womenswear and childrenswear at ground-floor level, and menswear and homeware at the lower-ground level, Next is relocating from its 3,500 sq ft High Street store.
Criterion Capital has just let unit 25 to Gloria Jeans and has units under offer to Coffee Republic and Nando’s. Cushman & Wakefield is the letting agent.
Criterion Capital expects to submit a planning application early this year to expand Queensmere Observatory opposite the Tesco Extra in Slough, from 595,000 sq ft to 650,000 sq ft and build 500 flats.
A planning application for a new 20,000 sq ft store at the west end of the Queensmere Centre was heard by Slough Planning Committee this month.
Coffee Republic arrives in the Northern Ireland
4th March 2008
The Irish Times online
The first Coffee Republic Deli in Northern Ireland has opened at the Abbeycentre in Newtownabbey, representing a £200,000 investment, creating 10 new jobs and offering what was recently voted the best cappuccino in London.
And Strabane will shortly see the company’s second outlet open its doors to coffee enthusiasts in the north, offering Coffee Republic’s famous coffee as well as hot and cold fresh food range, with much of the produce sourced from local suppliers.
Behind the new 1,200 square foot flagship coffee bar and Deli outlet are local entrepreneurs Siobhan and Robert Mooney, Coffee Republic’s Master Franchisees for Northern Ireland and the Republic.
No strangers to the service sector, they are responsible for bringing the premium international brand initially to Northern Ireland and plan to sub-franchise five additional Coffee Republic deli’s over the next 12 months.
“We’re delighted to launch our flagship Coffee Republic Deli and Centre for Training Excellence in the Abbeycentre, one of Northern Ireland’s longest established shopping centres,” Mrs Rooney said.
“Our new-look deli, combined with product innovation that includes a range of high quality fresh food and in-store baked bread and pastries, will provide consumers with an all-day product and service offering as well as truly exceptional service under one roof.
“We look forward to developing the brand throughout the country and attracting new franchisees.
“Our ideal store locations include high footfall locations throughout Ireland and the model suits units ranging from 700 - 1,500 square foot.
“We have already secured our first franchisee and anticipate the opening of the second Coffee Republic deli outlet in Strabane in April.”
The Irish Times online
The first Coffee Republic Deli in Northern Ireland has opened at the Abbeycentre in Newtownabbey, representing a £200,000 investment, creating 10 new jobs and offering what was recently voted the best cappuccino in London.
And Strabane will shortly see the company’s second outlet open its doors to coffee enthusiasts in the north, offering Coffee Republic’s famous coffee as well as hot and cold fresh food range, with much of the produce sourced from local suppliers.
Behind the new 1,200 square foot flagship coffee bar and Deli outlet are local entrepreneurs Siobhan and Robert Mooney, Coffee Republic’s Master Franchisees for Northern Ireland and the Republic.
No strangers to the service sector, they are responsible for bringing the premium international brand initially to Northern Ireland and plan to sub-franchise five additional Coffee Republic deli’s over the next 12 months.
“We’re delighted to launch our flagship Coffee Republic Deli and Centre for Training Excellence in the Abbeycentre, one of Northern Ireland’s longest established shopping centres,” Mrs Rooney said.
“Our new-look deli, combined with product innovation that includes a range of high quality fresh food and in-store baked bread and pastries, will provide consumers with an all-day product and service offering as well as truly exceptional service under one roof.
“We look forward to developing the brand throughout the country and attracting new franchisees.
“Our ideal store locations include high footfall locations throughout Ireland and the model suits units ranging from 700 - 1,500 square foot.
“We have already secured our first franchisee and anticipate the opening of the second Coffee Republic deli outlet in Strabane in April.”
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