Zarraffa's Coffee Opens Third Cairns Location - Drive Thru Only
The Cairns region will be home to a third Zarraffa’s Coffee location with the opening of its 78th store Manunda this November, bringing the company’s innovative drive thru only concept to North Queensland
Zarraffa’s Coffee Manunda has now joined the brand’s innovative "drive-thru only" operation, the first of its kind in Australia, catering to busy customers who prioritise convenience.
“To date, the drive thru only operations have been a huge success, offering franchisees the opportunity to open in untraditional site locations. With a smaller footprint and the full menu available, customers are loving the added convenience,” said Zarraffa’s CEO, Marnie Sheldon.
The new location will be operated by Cairns’ locals Jo and Paul Brierley, long-standing franchisees who have been a part of the Zarraffa’s family for the past decade, operating both the Edmonton and Cairns Showgrounds locations.
“Jo and I are thrilled to be opening a third location in Cairns. We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary with Zarraffa’s Coffee, having opened Zarraffa’s Cairns Showgrounds in September 2013,” Paul said.
“We were really excited about the drive thru only concept when the brand introduced it in April 2023. Zarraffa’s Manunda is really impressive and with the new store being only one of seven Zarraffa’s drive thru only sites in Australia so far, we feel really proud to now open one in Cairns.”
“We’re known for our quality coffee, convenience and fantastic service, which we have built a reputation for over the past decade, and at our new Manunda location we are just expanding on that.”
Known for its quality coffee, convenience, and excellent service, the new Manunda location will expand on the Brierleys' reputation in the community. The store will feature Zarraffa’s signature coffee blends along with fresh pastries, breakfast items, and savory snacks to complement the coffee experience.
The new location will create approximately 20 additional jobs in the area, with Jo and Paul now staffing 70 people across the community, contributing to the Cairns economy and providing opportunities for locals.
“We treat our Zarraffa’s stores like one big business, backed by a great team of baristas who know our local customers. We’ll be bringing in a few of our amazing staff members from Cairns Showgrounds and Edmonton to establish a seamless operation here at Manunda.”
“Zarraffa’s Manunda is in a semi-industrial area and also nearby major sporting fields. There’s football and cricket on every weekend during the seasons, and we’re located on the route to and from Cairns Hospital. We expect to attract a diverse range of customers, from busy families to sports enthusiasts.”
Marnie Sheldon said: “The Brierley’s are exceptional brand ambassadors, originally opening our northern-most location in Cairns ten years ago and have built a strong reputation in the region. They are raising their family locally and have shown what it means to be a Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisee. Their passion for coffee and their community involvement as business owners has made a significant impact in the Cairns region, and we’re excited to see their growth continue with the opening of Zarraffa’s Manunda.”
When asked what he believed the reasons for such a successful decade with Zarraffa’s Coffee came down to, Paul Brierley said: “The coffee is fantastic. The quality produced allows the business to be successful,” Paul said.
“Having a business is both massively rewarding and equally challenging. Being part of the Zarraffa’s family has been an incredible life experience.”
Leading the way in retail coffee innovation, Zarraffa’s Coffee introduced its popular drive-thru store concept in 2009 with the Worongary location and launched its first drive-thru-only site in Beaudesert in 2023, providing customers with quality coffee and added convenience.