Quad Shot for Zarraffa’s Coffee in Townsville

Hot on the heels of a third store late last year, the opening of a fourth store this week signifies a strong love of coffee for Zarraffa’s Coffee in the north.

North Queenslanders have decided with their feet – and their cars – as we open the doors to a new drive thru store in the Townsville suburb of Douglas.

From the first store opening in 2013 in Fairfield, Zarraffa’s has brewed a strong following within a few short years, with other locations on Hugh Street and most recently on Riverway Drive, Condon.

Helmed by local franchisee, Corey Blakemore, the expansion is a positive indicator that locals enjoy their coffee and appreciate the high level of service and craftmanship in every cup.

“We believe it’s about the attention to training, combined with the consistency exhibited at any one of the nearly 90 store locations across the Zarraffa’s group that is a huge reason for repeat custom,” said Corey.

“I relocated my entire family here to Townsville over 5 years ago and there is a lot of love for the brand and for our local teams at each of the stores.”

The new Douglas drive thru is located on 1 Riverside Boulevard, Douglas and will employ a team of approximately 24 staff, bringing the total number of Zarraffa’s employees in the area to approximately 90.

The new store will have a mix of experienced staff relocating from other sites and also many new staff who have been undergoing intensive training for the past couple of months.

Corey said that his team have actually been ready to open for some months, recruiting an entire team of baristas back in July for an expected August opening, when unexpected delays interrupted plans.

“Main Roads have had to upgrade things to ensure safety in the centre and we made the decision to keep the staff on the payroll while this was undertaken. It was important that the team we had trained got to open the doors, whenever that may have been.”

The entire team is relieved that the roadworks issues have been resolved and they can get on with the business of serving locals their coffee.

“It’s been hard to watch customers drive up to the site and be turned away. The appetite for coffee is just as rampant and discerning as in metropolitan centres, but we know that our local area differs from some of the other key Zarraffa’s territories,” said Corey.

“It’s important to understand that on an average summer day people won’t be asking for a Grande Caramel Latte but rather a cold Caramelised Fusion or Iced Americano.”

It is this understanding of the local market and its customers that has led to the rapid growth of the brand in the Townsville region said Zarraffa’s Managing Director and Founder Kenton Campbell.

“Corey and his team are great operators and by being in touch with their customers, continually putting in the hard yards in retraining and opening each new site to the same exacting standards, has enabled this expansion. They are also highly engaged and active in their community, in addition to partnerships locally with the Townsville Fire and North Queensland Cowboys,” he said.

“Their connection to community is also a key factor – whether it be in support of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys or working with the local police – it engenders a local attitude and it is something that is recognised by our customers.”

Zarraffa’s is set for major expansion in New South Wales, Western Australia and will commence openings in Victoria over the next 24 months but Kenton believes there is still a lot of growing to do in Queensland, where the company was born 21 years ago.

“We simply wouldn’t be where we are today without the support and love of coffee that Queenslanders deliver.”

“Zarraffa’s Coffee really is more than just a cup of coffee; it is the foundation of the small business dreams of so many of our franchisees, including Corey, his team and his family.”

Zarraffa’s Coffee Douglas Drive (Drive Thru) is located at Shop D2, The Riverside Centre, 1-5 Riverside Boulevard, Douglas QLD 4814.

Opening hours:         5am – 10pm, seven days a week

Click here for more information.