National plans for coffee bar newcomer Cotto Espresso after Adelaide debut

FORMER Cibo Espresso partner and chief executive Solomon Farah is behind plans to launch a new national Italian-style coffee chain from Adelaide.

FORMER Cibo Espresso partner and chief executive Solomon Farah is behind plans to launch a new national Italian-style coffee chain from Adelaide.

A second Cotto Espresso bar was launched in Hyde Park earlier this month, two more Adelaide outlets were expected to open in the next three months and Mr Farah said there were plans to take the new brand national and international.

Mr Farah left Cibo about three years ago after spending six years as the company’s chief executive – the Adelaide-founded brand has since been bought by Retail Zoo, owners of Boost Juice and Salsa’s Fresh Mex Grill.

In a bold move, the newest Cotto Espresso Bar has opened across the road from a popular Cibo outlet in King William Road.

But Mr Farah said Cotto Espresso was a new concept and there was room for a “new kid on the block” in the busy coffee bar market.

“I think the coffee market is technically, the second largest after oil in the world, the second biggest commodity, there’s room for such a concept… I do believe there’s room for growth in South Australia, it’s open to another new concept, the response so far has been very positive,” Mr Farah said.

“Our aim is for Cotto to be a premium national and international leader of authentic Italian espresso bars.”

Mr Farah has an accountancy background and was also previously chief financial officer at Jurlique for five years, working on the due diligence on an estimated $100 million deal to sell the formerly South Australian-owned beauty products business.

Work is now underway on a new Cotto Espresso bar headed to Moseley Square in Glenelg and Prospect Road in Prospect.

Mr Farah said the partnership was also looking at options at The Parade in Norwood, along with Gouger Street and Rundle Street in the city.

Mr Farah joined forces with the founders of Cotto Espresso in Woodville, cousins Francesco Cecere and Nicholas Cioffi, after spending some time searching for a new investment opportunity.

“I looked at several businesses and I liked this one, I have many years of experience establishing businesses and systems and the idea is to take Cotto to the next level,” Mr Farah said.

The original Woodville café was opened by Mr Cecere and Mr Cioffi eight years ago.

Adelaide interior designer Design Think had now been brought on board to give each of the new outlets a unique look.

Goodwood-based Design Think has worked on the Michel Wool and Phil Hoffman Travel head offices along with mooi café and Utzi in Burnside Village.

At this stage, Mr Farah said the first espresso bars would be funded through private investment but did not rule out franchises being a longer-term option once the team had established a viable business model.