Australian cafe chain The Coffee Club has signed a licensing agreement with Liwa Minor Food & Beverages, in a move to expand its presence to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region of the Middle East.
The company plans to open at least 100 new stores across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, by the end of 2023.
Liwa Minor Food & Beverages is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate Al Nasser Holdings and Minor Food, a subsidiary of Thailand-based Minor International which owns 50% stake in The Coffee Group.
Coffee Club CEO Jason Ball said that the signing with the GCC was another important milestone for the future growth of the brand internationally, following its partnership with Malaysia in August.
"We currently have a presence in seven countries across the world and this signing, along with the recent deal with Malaysia, will see us grow to at least 14 countries within the next ten years," added Ball.
The first of 100 stores in the GCC is expected to be opened in early 2014.
The Coffee Club, currently, has 335 cafes across seven countries, including 267 in Australia.
