MISSISSAUGA, Canada – The Second Cup Coffee Company Inc. (“Second Cup”) continues to build its global presence. The growing coffee franchise chain has recently announced the signing of its 32nd country agreement with plans to open cafes in France with SAS Z Coffee Shop (“SASZ”), a company headed by Mr. Nabil Zahra.
The first Second Cup location in France will be in the historic city of Lyon at the recently renovated landmark Grand Hôtel-Dieu.
Once a historically significant hospital, Grand Hôtel-Dieu is currently being reconstructed as the gastronomical hub of Lyon and a multi-purpose commercial center complete with renowned restaurants, boutiques and offices.
“This agreement with our French partner lends further weight to our strategy to further expand into the European Union,” said Mr. Jim Ragas, President & CEO, Second Cup. “We are confident that a bright future lies ahead for us in the French marketplace.”
The Second Cup café will feature a unique design fitting to the ambiance of the development as well as a beautiful terrace.
The café will incorporate traditional French tastes and flavors sourced locally, as part of their commitment to contributing to local communities, complemented by Second Cup’s extensive premium offering of Arabica Rainforest Alliance© coffees, Organic teas, fresh cold-pressed juices and original frozen yogurt.
Speaking on behalf of SASZ, Nabil Zahra said that “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to demonstrate to everyone in France what Canadians have known for decades that Second Cup offers the best café experience with comfortable surroundings, great service, fantastic food and of course their famous coffees, teas and cold beverages.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Second Cup to continue to extend our brand internationally with strong regional partners like SASZ. Customers in the United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the USA have embraced our Second Cup offerings and, building on that momentum, we recognized that the time was ideal to further penetrate the European market,” said Jim Ragas, President & CEO of Second Cup. “France provides an excellent demographic for our brand, with a young, affluent and well educated aspirational consumer ready to try new products and experiences.”
Second Cup grew from its humble beginnings in 1975 in Toronto, Ontario, and over the past 42 years the company has expanded globally to 32 countries worldwide and soon to be 35 with over 220 cafes operating internationally. Second Cup is actively seeking new regional and country franchise partners for additional area development.
