Caffè Nero, the Gerry Ford-led coffee chain, has announced plans to invest €20m in opening up to 40-50 sites in Ireland over the next five years.
The company opened its first store in Merrion Row, Dublin, earlier this month with plans to open a second outlet this summer. It plans to open about eight to 10 stores a year in Ireland.
The group is believed to be initially targeting locations in suburban Dublin, with plans to potentially open in airports and other main transport hubs, as well as outside the capital.
Ford said: “We’ve been looking at Ireland for several years but we’re only really now beginning to feel comfortable with our international expansion. Our premises on Merrion Row allows us to begin the journey of sharing our award-winning blends and the hours of craftsmanship that go into each cup, with coffee-lovers at the centre of this beautiful city. We plan to introduce further Caffè Nero coffee houses to Ireland over time.”
The company will make its debut in the US, next month with an opening in Boston.
