GLOBAL CHAIN WITH A COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Esquires Coffee has ambitious plans for growth, with a conservative goal of operating at least 400 stores worldwide by 2020

Esquires Coffee is the first global coffee brand to offer 100 per cent Fairtrade, certified organic coffee in a contemporary yet cosy environment.

Esquires Coffee outlets are owner-operated, not corporations behind the counter, but people with a vested interest in the success of their businesses. They have a commitment to both the customer and community in which they serve. Esquires Coffee is the global coffee chain with community spirit.

PRESENCE

Esquires Coffee currently operate 30 stores across the UK and Ireland. There is also a brand presence in Canada, China, New Zealand and the Middle East. Esquires Coffee has ambitious plans for growth, with a conservative goal of operating at least 400 stores globally by 2020.

Investment in an Esquires Coffee franchise is between £150,000-£265,000, dependent on location and size. Single, multi-store and master license partnerships are available throughout the UK, Ireland and globally. Single sites carry a franchisee fee of £19,500, while multi-store investors can expect to pay a fee of £12,500 for subsequent sites. Esquires are looking for people who share their vision and are seeking to recruit people who wish to benefit from their tried and tested business model.

Esquires Coffee is a well developed franchise system, spanning a 21-year history from its conception in Vancouver, Canada in 1993. Esquires provide a tailor-made solution for each franchisee’s needs, including full training, assistance with site selection and procurement, lease negotiation, store design, marketing, recruitment and staff training, as well as ongoing support.

Franchisees who are hands on, have a deep knowledge of their local market and are willing to follow Esquires’ award winning franchise concept are those who are most likely to become key players in the booming food and beverage retail sector.

Esquires have recently re-welcomed Doug Williamson, one of the original founders of the brand, to come on board as the Managing Director of the UK. Doug states he is: “Very excited at the opportunity, particularly the massive potential for growth in the coffee sector.

“I’ve discovered since arriving that we have an excellent support network. We have solid franchise finance partnerships with RBS, NatWest and HSBC, as well as wonderful alliances with Franchise Finance, the British Franchise Association and some of the country’s top commercial leasing specialists.

“Most importantly, we have a committed base of successful franchisees who are excited about our new branding and 100 per cent determined to make Esquires one of the best coffee offerings in the United Kingdom.”

REBRAND

Plans for the future include a complete rebrand featuring a vibrant, technologically progressive and comfy store environment. Esquires will also be greatly enhancing their food offering and have some creative, energetic marketing and promotional campaigns planned.

Doug says his own experience of owning and running a successful marketing agency in Vancouver has taught him: “How to leverage new media and the centrifugal nature of social networking to the benefit of the chain.”

He describes this as: “A crucial element in terms of building relationships with younger and future audiences.”

Esquires aim to give franchisees the assistance they need to help them create a valuable and lucrative business. You don’t just have to take their word for it either. Scarborough franchisee Stephen Hall, who has been operating since 2010, describes working with Esquires as: “Such an easy process,” where he has been: “Supported every step of the way, to where [he] now has a successful and profitable business.”

Stephen also describes being an Esquires franchisee as: “Being part of a family,” which in turn: “Gives [him] confidence in what can be achieved going forward into the future.”

Becoming a franchisee with Esquires helps you to: “Acquire a business within a prestigious sector of the coffee industry with customer awareness,” explains Sharon Siracusa, franchisee of Esquires Harlow.

According to a recent report by strategic research consultancy Allegra, the UK coffee shop market is worth £6.2 billion and growing, while it is estimated the UK has the long-term potential to comfortably host more than 9,500 branded coffee shops.

As part of the Esquires Coffee community ethos, the company hosts nationwide competitions across the network of franchisees each year. All franchisees are invited to participate in the annual Esquires Franchisee of the Year competition, in which franchisees are scored based on their customer service skills, work in the community and sales growth.

Alongside this coveted award, franchisees are also encouraged to get their staff involved in the Barista of the Year competition, in which baristas from around the country get to show off their coffee making skills in front of an expert panel of judges.

Esquires Franchisee of the Year 2013, Stephen Hall, describes such company events as a great way of: “Helping to reward the hard work and commitment of his employees.”

Esquires Coffee prides itself on its unique selling proposition - great coffee. Their coffee has been developed with their roaster to be both 100 per cent organic and Fairtrade certified without compromising on taste.

Esquires’ espresso coffee has been carefully developed to produce a blend they consider to be the best in Britain. It is a full-bodied, rich roast blend developed to taste particularly great in milky drinks. Although a rich roast, it is exceptionally smooth and doesn’t have the bitterness of many espresso blends on the high street.

CHARITABLE

As well as offering great coffee, Esquires also has charitable commitments to Coffee Kids and Project Waterfall. Esquires Coffee donate 10p from every bottle of water sold to Project Waterfall, a charity that helps give access to clean and safe water to communities in rural Africa.

Coffee Kids is a charity that works with coffee growing families in South America to help them become more self sufficient. Esquires Coffee donate a percentage of coffee bean purchases to help this charity and, in addition, have collection boxes in every store for those customers who would also like to donate to this worthy cause.

Esquires Coventry franchisee Steven Prime, the British Franchise Association Young Franchisee of the Year award winner in 2013, cycled from Seattle to Los Angeles in August this year to raise money for Coffee Kids.

Steven describes this as: “A hugely rewarding and challenging experience. I am entirely thankful to Esquires and our network of suppliers, who supported me along the journey.”