Gold Coast franchise Zarraffa’s Coffee expands presence in NSW, WA

Gold Coasters will soon be able to get a cup of their favourite coffee while travelling interstate as one of the city’s greatest business success stories expands throughout Australia.

GOLD Coast franchisor Zarraffa’s Coffee is going coast to coast with its latest move to expand its coffee shops throughout Australia.

The chain, which was founded in 1996 by Kenton Campbell, is set to open its first purpose-built outlet in the Perth suburb of Clarkson and another in greater Sydney in Bankstown under the Area Developer model. This model differs from the master franchisor in that some functions, such as head office, recruitment and training are outsourced by the operating company.

CEO Marnie Sheldon said the new outlets represent a further push for the company beyond its Queensland base.

“We’ve long set our sights on migrating from the company’s Queensland roots, established over two decades ago, into the coffee-loving market of NSW and further into Western Australia,” she said.

Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees Paul and Jennifer Meyler.

Zarraffa’s moved into Western Australia in 2012 via purchasing an existing coffee chain with a footprint spanning from Perth to Kalgoorlie.

The Clarkson store will be the first of its drive-through sites in Western Australia and will be run by franchisees Paul and Jennifer Meyler, who relocated from Queensland in 2014 after operating a Zarraffa’s store in Brisbane for eight years.

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“We literally packed up our lives in Queensland five years ago, drove across the Nullarbor Plain and opened the doors to the Ellenbrook and Calamvale stores within a month,” Mr Meyler said.

“Clarkson represents an opportunity to introduce coffee drinkers to a full Zarraffa’s store experience with a comfortable instore environment and a full-service drive through.”

The Bankstown NSW store will be run under the NSW Area Developer arrangement steered by Ben Old and Dion Sholz.

Zarraffa's coffee founder Kenton Campbell. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Ben and Dion have been spearheading the drive for new locations and expansion in New South Wales and had a successful foray with the Belmont North (Newcastle) store in 2017,” Mrs Sheldon said.

“Finding the right site and franchisee is critical, with the company opting to operate the Bankstown store as a corporate location until things are ready for franchisee ownership.”

Mr Campbell operated a coffee cart in Seattle before moving to Australia and starting Zarraffa’s in Southport.