Café chain on a growth curve

MISSISSAUGA-Coffee Culture's rapid expansion continues in 2008 with another 24 franchised locations opening soon across Ontario.

The café started with just one store in Woodstock in July of 2006 and now has 19 open.

Cafés have opened recently in Sarnia, Tillsonburg, Port Elgin, St. Thomas and Goderich.

More are coming soon to Huntsville, Kincardine, Simcoe, Parry Sound, Kitchener and Mississauga, among others.

The company has joined the ranks of Williams Coffee Pub, Timothy's Coffees of the World and Second Cup, aiming for a share of the more upscale coffee market.

Company president Joe Di Savino said that Coffee Culture Café & Eatery, as part of its business plan, purposely goes after smaller communities that lack a higher end coffee chain.

"We found an interesting niche in smaller markets such as Woodstock and St. Mary's," he explained. "We found we could do quite well."

Di Savino said larger chains such as Starbucks are not always interested in setting up shop in smaller communities, creating an opportunity for Coffee Culture.

"Our goal is to do 40 locations a year in Ontario."

Coffee Culture serves a range of gourmet and specialty hot and chilled coffees and baked goods are made fresh in store every day. Crepes, sandwiches, breakfast bagels, gelato and cake round out the menu.

Leather seating, plasma televisions, couches, fireplaces and free wireless Internet access make it more than just another fast food chain, Di Savino said.

Next on the agenda for the company is an expansion into Alberta and British Columbia starting in 2009, followed by a push into the United States as early as this fall, Di Savino said.

As of yet, all the company's franchisees own just single locations, he added, as stores have not been in operation long enough for owners to take on a second, but he does see that changing in the future.  

"We have owners with rights in other markets," the chain's president said.

Coffee Culture is operated by Mississauga-based Obsidian Group, which also franchises the Crabby Joe's chain of restaurants.