Esquires The Organic Coffee Co.

Expanding Member

– Joined 2000

Esquires Coffee is a global brand known for providing high-quality coffee, delicious fresh food and exceptional customer service. Originating in Vancouver in 1993 and now owned by Cooks Coffee company, a publicly listed company on the New Zealand and Aquis Stock Exchange in London, Esquires has a global network of stores, with locations across the UK, Europe, Asia and The Middle East.

At Esquires, we place a strong emphasis on sustainability, 100% organic and Fairtrade coffee and responsible sourcing practices. All of our coffee is grown by Fairtrade farmers as part of the forest and existing ecosystem, and we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability by partnering with the first coffee roastery in the world to achieve the gold carbon-neutral standard. To further support green initiatives, we have implemented the use of recyclable and compostable coffee cups, recyclable takeaway boxes and bags, serviettes, and straws to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in our business.

Our UK stores are developed using a regional developer system, leveraging local knowledge to select the best locations and prospective franchisees. We take great care in choosing the right franchisees and provide comprehensive training to ensure they can deliver warm and welcoming café experiences to their local communities.

Currently, we operate 50+ stores in the UK, with 8 new stores set to launch in the next quarter. Our long-term goal is to expand strategically and potentially double the number of stores within the next three years while maintaining our emphasis on sustainable and responsible sourcing practices, high-quality products, and excellent customer service.

Training

At Esquires, we provide a comprehensive and practical franchisee training programme to achieve operational excellence. The training typically spans two weeks and covers various aspects of the business, including an introduction to the brand, our mission and values, organic and Fairtrade coffee, food offer, customer service, recruitment and training, merchandising, finance, and marketing.

Additionally, the training programme includes practical tasks such as coffee making and latte art, operating and cleaning equipment, stock ordering and inventory management, running daily shifts, working on the till, cashing up till, banking, placing and receiving orders.

Through this extensive training, we aim to equip franchisees with the knowledge and skills they need to operate their coffee shops successfully and maintain the brand’s high standards of quality and customer service.

Furthermore, all of our tried and trusted systems are carefully documented in our operations and training manuals, ensuring that franchisees have all the information they need at their fingertips. Our operations team remains available to new franchisees post-opening to support them as they continue to learn their trade and ask questions.

What will I do as a Franchisee

At Esquires, we offer franchisees the opportunity to run their own coffee shop with the support of our brand, while allowing them to retain full responsibility for the shop’s growth and success.

While previous experience in catering or retail is not a prerequisite for running a successful Esquires franchise, we do require our franchisees to possess certain qualities. These include drive and ambition, a strong work ethic, a commitment to maintaining Esquires’ high standards of service excellence, and the ability to follow established systems and procedures. In addition, a successful franchisee should have a proven track record of achievement, confidence and self-belief in order to attain outstanding results.

Although the experience of operating an Esquires outlet may differ for single and multi-unit franchisees, it generally entails overseeing multiple aspects of the business, such as opening and closing procedures, food and beverage preparation, employee training, inventory and financial management, and working with head office to develop marketing and promotional strategies.

At Esquires, we enable franchisees to thrive in their business environment and grow at their own pace by providing ongoing support and training to our franchisees to ensure their continued success.