Coffee Club stands by to ‘caffeinate’ amid shutdown

Coffee Club is setting up special ‘pick up zones’ at its 300 stores so customers can still obtain their favorite beverage and snack while maintaining social distance rules.

Nick Bryden from The Coffee Club. Picture: AAP Image/Claudia Baxter

QUEENSLAND'S biggest coffee shop chain is preparing for a big hit to its bottom line as it closes dining areas but has vowed to keep customers “caffeinated even as they isolate."

Coffee Club chief executive Nick Bryden said takeaway coffee and food would still be available from the chain's almost 300 Australian stores during the coronavirus shutdown.

"We are setting up special pick up sectors in stores where customers can collect their coffee but still be the required social distance from each other," said Mr Bryden.

Coffee and menu items could be ordered through Uber Eats and Menu Log during the shutdown. "It's clear this is going to have a massive impact on the business as 70 percent of our revenue comes from dining in," said Mr Bryden. "But we want people to know we are still here to caffeinate them even as they isolate."

Dining at Coffee Club on hold for now

Brisbane-based Coffee Club, which has more than 3000 staff across its company-owned and franchise stores, has delayed a planned major rebranding until after the coronavirus situation has passed.

"We are working on how we are going to deal with the next three weeks," said Mr Bryden. "We have set up a crisis team as the situation is constantly changing. As a business, we are determined to keep people safe, keep serving, keep consistency and care for the community."

Mr Bryden said as part of caring for the community, Coffee Club was offering "care kits" that customers could give to the aged or vulnerable who could not access supermarkets. The kits, which include a loaf of bread, milk and coffee, will be available through the Uber Eats app.

He said staffing levels at franchise shops would be up to individual franchisees but the 100 staff employed at its headquarters were expected to be required. "It's all hands on deck as far as we are concerned," he said.

Coffee Club boss Nick Bryden.