Cafe2U UK is delighted to announce it has been listed as one of the UK’s Top 50 franchises – according to Elite Franchise magazine’s annual list.
And, what’s more, Cafe2U is confirmed as the Top Mobile Coffee franchise in the country too.
This will come as no surprise to both our franchisees and customers, who get to experience the business each day. Our growing network of almost 100 vans serves thousands of happy customers daily in “non-traditional” locations all over the UK.
And it’s no fluke, either – Cafe2U is underpinned by three key beliefs:
– We take pride in delivering consistent high-quality, be it coffee, food or customer experience.
– We recruit, train and support the best franchisees to the utmost of our ability.
– We care about our customers, our people, our suppliers and the planet.
The award comes at a time of growth for the business, set to have 100 vans on the road simultaneously for the first time since its formation in 2006, and for the wider coffee industry as a whole.
The Allegra UK Coffee Portal Report 2018 made for very interesting reading for the whole of the coffee industry when it was released earlier this year. Now worth a staggering £9.6bn, the UK coffee market underwent a ‘coming of age’ year in the last year, recording 10.5% branded market increase, signifying its 19th consecutive year of growth.
Whilst the industry has strengthened, so too has its understanding of the UK coffee consumer. The top two reasons behind where people choose to buy their coffee from is the convenience of the location and the quality of the coffee – with the preferred drink of choice still the well-loved latte.
All this makes pleasant reading for anybody remotely linked or interested in the UK coffee market – and even more enjoyable for those working and operating in it. As with many coffee outlets, Cafe2U is simultaneously benefiting from the booming franchise market. Over the last four years, the franchise industry has grown 10% and is now worth £17.2bn to the UK economy, employing more than 710,000 people. What’s more, the hotel and catering industry is one of the fastest growing sectors according to the bfa NatWest survey released in December 2018.
To straddle these two burgeoning markets at a time when others are struggling and futures looking uncertain is a unique and exciting opportunity. As the fourth largest coffee brand in the UK buy outlet number (Allegra Project Cafe 2018), and largest mobile coffee offering, we are proud of the position we find ourselves in.
A career with a Cafe2U franchise can therefore be a profitable one. By its very nature, we operate in a less competitive space than those on the high street, in shopping centres or at transport hubs. However, we are still able to offer the experience of coffee shop-quality espresso at the workplace or event. This is underlined by the demands of the customer who are looking for a higher standard of coffee than that currently available at their workplace, in the most convenient fashion. There’s nothing more convenient than coffee coming straight to your door.
Cafe2U franchise partners can capitalise on this need for convenience, whilst carefully planned rounds ensure you are operating in areas with less competition. Whilst most workplaces have instant coffee available, and some offering a canteen service, workers up and down the country still opt to spend money on high-quality coffee from a mobile cafe. Bringing a workforce outside for a few minutes also brings other benefits.
A recent survey we conducted outlined that for a number of customers, the social experience of coming out to grab a coffee and standing in a queue with colleagues is a highlight of their day. It gives them the ability to get away from their desks for five minutes and out into the fresh air, socialise, relax, text a friend or answer the daily quiz question posed by their friendly barista. Many HR departments are encouraging a break for their workers in this way.
As consumers become more discerning however, it is important to continually invest in developing product range and ensuring you are offering the latest on-trend coffees and twists. This has seen us add drinks such as turmeric and matcha lattes, plus responding to the preference for alternative milks by adding the likes of coconut milk to the back of the van.
