Bake n Grape, a new bakery and all-day café-bar concept from Caek Mafia is planning to franchise its concept after three years, M&C Report has learnt.
The first store is due to open in Chelmsford, Essex, at the end of Q1 2015 and will be followed by one store a year in 2016 and 2017, with the planned for London and the second between Chelmsford and the capital.
The group has two private investors providing the funding for first store and subsequent expansion. Following the third store the group will franchise the concept to accelerate openings nationwide with plans for five or six sites in the first year of franchising followed by 10-12 in the second year. It is anticipated that by the end of 2018 there will be 20 stores operating.
Chris Windram, managing director of the group said: “The planning and the set-up of the whole business was done in a way that works for franchising.”
He said although franchising would be nationwide, the concept would work better around major hubs such as London and Birmingham, which is why the first three venues will form a route towards London with Brentwood, Essex being considered as the second location.
Bake n Grape will offer all-day dining with a bakery, restaurant and bar in the evenings to cater for the 30 – 50 professional market in the commuter town.
Windram believes this sector is under catered for and wants to offer a place for people to eat and drink in the evenings as an alternative to bars aimed at younger cliental or “old man pubs”.
“It isn’t something common in the UK but if you look at France and Germany the all-day and evening café-bar concept works well in those countries. It’s my understanding that Starbucks are trialling a similar concept in the US serving alcohol in the evenings.”
