Coffee Republic signs franchise deal in Scotland

Coffee Republic has signed a franchise deal to open 25 outlets in Scotland by the end of next year, including its largest UK outlet to date.

The first site under the agreement with deli operator McLeish Brothers will open in Edinburgh before Christmas this year. Further sites are currently being reviewed in Glasgow and Dundee, according to Danny Anderson, Coffee Republic master franchisee for Scotland.

“One store will be in Silverburn, Glasgow, which will be one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres,” he said. “It will be the largest Coffee Republic store in the UK to date.

“There are a further five franchised stores in Scotland planned before the financial year end (30 March),” he added.

The Scotland deal is the eighth regional development franchise signed by the company this year as it transforms from an ownership to franchise model.

Free BBC content over WiFi

BBC has signed a deal with Wi-Fi operator The Cloud to extend public access to online content

The BBC has become the first UK broadcaster to have all of its online content made available for free via Wi-Fi, it was announced today by BBC Director of Future Media & Technology, Ashley Highfield.

The non-exclusive venture enables the public to access all bbc.co.uk content for free through the UK’s largest network of hotspots, operated by The Cloud.

The 7,500 hotspots are located at a multitude of locations across the UK, including McDonald’s, Coffee Republic, BAA airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) as well as a number of outdoor locations including Canary Wharf and the City of London.

Users will be able to access bbc.co.uk via an interactive video, highlighting a range of content available or via a BBC logo, both of which are located on The Cloud’s landing site.

Ashley Highfield said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with The Cloud in what we hope is the first of many such partnerships across the UK. This is a new environment for the BBC and one which we believe will be hugely important for our future success.

“This venture enables us to offer free Wi-Fi access to BBC content on the high street, furthering the BBC’s commitment to make its content as widely available as possible to our audiences wherever they are. For instance they can catch up on Strictly Come Dancing whilst having a café latte in Coffee Republic.”

Owen Geddes, Group Director of Business Development at The Cloud added: “Wi-Fi is emerging as the technology of choice for media and content owners wanting to extend their reach beyond traditional channels.

“The explosion of media-capable devices, coupled with the high bandwidth and low cost Wi-Fi offers, means high quality video and audio can be delivered to people wherever they are. The Cloud is leading the market, working with visionary thinkers like the BBC, in bringing content over wireless broadband to the mass market.”

In this initial phase, visitors to bbc.co.uk via The Cloud network will be able to view BBC content on all Wi-Fi compatible devices.

However, users will only be able to download programmes from BBC iPlayer via a laptop.

In due course it is anticipated the service will be available via mobile phones and other smart handheld devices.

Coffee Republic has won the Media Today Business Achievement Award for Best Investment 2007

The coffee & deli bar franchise received the award for having a good business concept, which it is looking to move forward within the industry. “We are delighted to receive this award for Best Investment 2007,” says Steven Bartlett, Coffee Republic CEO. “It reflects the growth in Coffee Republic over the recent years and the great opportunity that our Deli offering presents for potential franchisees to join us. The Deli concept has been extremely successful, we are in a period of rapid expansion and are working to an opening programme of 100 plus Deli bars and concessions over the next six to 12 months. We have opportunities across all areas of the UK for individuals with drive and the enthusiasm to set up their own Deli franchise.”

Coffee Republic is set to open its first Scottish branch in one of the city’s most prestigious beauty spots

Coffee Republic has struck a deal to run the controversial pavilion being built in St Andrew Square Garden.

The garden is being opened to the public for the first time next spring after a £2.6 million revamp paid for by the city council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian.

Coffee Republic was chosen after a competitive tendering process carried out by the Edinburgh City Centre Management Company, which will be responsible for maintaining the gardens after they open up next year, as well as coordinating the staging of special events there.

The year-long revamp will see a new pathway created to provide a pedestrian link between the Jenners and Harvey Nichols department stores.

The gardens will also boast a “reflective pool”, ageing trees are to be replaced, and the statue of Lord Melville in the middle of the garden will be restored for the first time in 50 years. A new lighting system is being installed around the garden’s pathways, trees and on the monument to help bring the square to life at night.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city’s transport, infrastructure and public realm leader, said: “Work to transform St Andrew Square is well underway, and the project is really taking shape. Once finished early next year, the square will be a peaceful haven in the heart of the city centre in which the public can relax and unwind.

“I am sure that this new amenity will be beneficial to citizens and visitors alike.”

Work is already underway on the cafe pavilion in the north-west corner of the garden.

Coffee Republic has yet to move in Scotland but the St Andrew Square outlet is expected to be the first of three due to open in Edinburgh in the next 12 months.

Heritage group the Cockburn Association had demanded the scrapping of the pavilion cafe claiming its arrival would leave the square looking “squalid”.

However Nigel Duncan, vice-chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in Edinburgh, said: “We wouldn’t have a problem with this company coming in and operating this cafe if they have gone through a proper tendering process and everything is above board.

“We don’t see anything wrong with having a cafe in there at all. It’s the kind think you see in squares and gardens in London, and all over Europe.”

A spokeswoman for the City Centre Management Company said: “Dating back to 1770, the garden has the distinction of being the oldest of the New Town pleasure gardens and has always been for the exclusive use of surrounding residents and businesses.

“The council has leased the garden for the next 50 years from the St Andrew Square proprietors and, along with funding partners Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian are investing £2.6 million to enhance this green and tranquil space and enable the general public to enjoy the garden for the first time.

“It is a condition of the lease of the square that nearby building owners were consulted as to who the prospective operator of the cafe in St Andrew Square could be.”

Coffee Republic opens new Deli in Lakeside

Coffee Republic opens new Deli in Lakeside Coffee Republic plc, the independent coffee and deli bar operator, announces that its latest Deli has opened in the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex. The new deli will be the responsibility of Regional Development Franchisees for Essex, Sean and Helen Gordon of East Coast Traders.

The franchisees at Lakeside are Jon and Stephanie Shepherd who plan to open at least 3 Delis over the next six months within the South East. Jon and Stephanie are joined by James Donald who will oversee operations.

24 million shoppers pass though Lakeside every year to visit the 280 shops there. Over 52% of shoppers stay in the centre for more than 2 hours meaning a guaranteed audience for lunch and snacks throughout the week.

The full Coffee Republic offering will be served including real coffee and deli fresh food. The new Deli will also service over 6,000 employees working at Lakeside, situated in an excellent position in the main mall.

The new Deli will be open at least an hour before the centre opens to the public to provide those arriving for work with freshly baked pastries, breakfast food and great coffee.