Coffee chain targets city for its first branch in UK

A COFFEE chain is looking to start its UK expansion with a venue in Cardiff.

Coffee Planet on Newport Road will be the first venture for the UAE chain in the UK.

The opening date for the new venue is set for the beginning of April.

The Cardiff branch of Coffee Planet outlet will employ between 8-10 members of staff and have seating for 30 customers.

The Cardiff site will also have an alcohol licence.

Adam Charles, the UK business development director, said the chain is looking for franchisees to help the company grow across the UK.

“The chairman is originally from Caerphilly,” said Mr Charles.

“And the other people involved have been wanting to bring Coffee Planet to the UK for a while.”

The company, which is 13 years old, is led Welsh-expat Robert Jones. Mr Jones, who has a business postgraduate degree from Cardiff University, championed Coffee Planet’s expansion into the foodservice and retail divisions. The business started in motorway service stations.

In 2008 the company opened a roastery in Dubai, which meant they had total control of roasting our speciality coffee blends and single origin coffees.

In 2009 it opened its first coffee shop in the UAE and two years later started to export the business.

In 2017 Coffee Planet signed a franchise agreement with HB Brands for 70 outlets in Saudi Arabia. The company also has venues in Qatar, Pakistan, Malaysia as well as the UAE.