Esquires, the Canadian coffee shop franchise, has three new stores lined up this year, in Liverpool, Hanley and Yate, on top of two launches over the last week, MCA has learnt.
In the last 12 months Esquires has opened six new franchised stores in Guildford, Twickenham, Dartford, Maidstone, Balham and Esher which have taken it up to 31 sites.
By the end of 2017 the UK business will be opening new stores in Liverpool in a predominately office serving location, in Hanley in a high street location and in Yate- in a newly build pod at Yate Riverside Retail Park.
Esquires, which wants to operate 200 stores in the UK by 2021, is currently in the process of securing further locations around the UK.
Kerry Noble, marketing manager at Esquires, told MCA: “With rent and rates in major city centres becoming increasingly unaffordable we are now focussing more of our attention on the smaller suburban high streets, where our stores can become the hub of the community and our franchisees can make a decent return on their investment.”
Noble said despite being a Canadian coffee shop franchise there few similarities with Tim Hortons, which is seeking rapid expansion in the UK.
She added: “Tim Hortons are great at what they do, but Esquires Coffee is quite different. Our coffee is Fairtrade and organic, sourced direct from farmers across the equator; our stores are designed to reflect the local area, we offer a brunch menu including avocado on toast, eggs benedict and smoked salmon bagels, gluten free cakes, vegan frappes and much, much more in our stores.”
