Crepeaffaire the New York-influenced patisserie concept, is set to ramp up its expansion plans next year and examine further franchise opportunities both across the UK and internationally.
The five-strong group, which is led by Daniel Spinath, has a sixth company-owned site in the pipeline to open in London early next year and plans to open new units in total in the capital over the coming 12 months.
Spinath told M&C Report that was looking at its franchise strategy with the intention of opening in city and town centres outside London. The chain opened its first site outside of London and its first UK airport franchise at Stansted in a link up with Autogrill in April.
He said that all future sites within two hours travel of London would be company-owned but that outside that parameter it would look to team up with local franchise partners.
He said: “So far we have taken a cautious approach to expansion and have been trying to build a category. We believe the time is right to explore opportunities both in and outside London. We are also at the early stages of looking at taking the concept overseas, although that maybe a further year away.”
Spinath said that the Holland, Belgium and Germany would be the initial markets the company would look to enter, before seeking opportunities in the Middle East and Far East.
Currently privately owned, he also said that the company would “probably need to explore outside investment routes” going forward in order to match its expansion targets.
The company, which opened its first site in 2004, also operates units in Soho, Spitalfields, Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
