Cafe2U plans to double franchises
A MOBILE coffee business established in the UK by a Yorkshire university graduate has opened 12 franchises in its first year of trading with plans to double that figure by the end of 2006.
Cafe2U offers office workers the chance to take a break by wandering outdoors for a drink.
Tom Acland launched the Cafe2U business in the UK after becoming interested in the Australian firm when he worked Down Under.
The Leeds Metropolitan University business hospitality management graduate returned to the UK and set up his own coffee company with financial backing from Cafe2U in Australia.
Cafe2U, based in Wetherby, uses specially-equipped vans to deliver coffee, and a range of food and other drinks, to out-of-town office workers and events and shows not served by major high street retail chains.
Following success with the company’s first two franchises, which serve Horsforth and Seacroft in Leeds, and the Thorp Arch trading estate near Wetherby, 10 more franchises have opened since Cafe2U was founded last June.
As well as five operations in Leeds, franchises have been established in Edinburgh, London, Nottingham, Cheltenham, Basingstoke, Norwich and Manchester.
Mr Acland, the business’s major shareholder and director, said it was on target to meet its business plan.
“We can see no reason why every town in the country can’t have one,” he said.
“It’s a completely new service and it’s been received very, very well.”
He said the aim was to have 24 franchises by the end of this year, with another 50 planned to be added in 2007.Subscribe to my RSS feed! Thanks for visiting!
