Global coffee chain opens a store in Karachi and another in Amman, announcing further plans to grow Middle East presence
Cooks Global Foods, which owns the Esquire’s global master franchise, has set its sights on Middle East expansion, citing huge potential for its café format in the region and strong demand for international brands.
Announcing a 10-year plan for 40 stores in Pakistan and 30 in Jordan, Cooks Global Foods executive chairman, Keith Jackson, said both countries would be strong launching pads for expanding Esquire’s global footprint.
"The Pakistan store is in Karachi's busy Zamzama area, a popular and affluent quarter of the city, populated by banks, offices, high-end shops, cafes and restaurants. It is the latest evolution of the Esquires café format, including a modern kitchen, à la carte menu and design that reflects the best of New Zealand café culture," he said.
"With a population of just over 4 million people [Amman] can attract as many as two million tourists a year, ranking it among the most visited cities in the world,” he added.
Opening its first store in Vancouver, Canada, in 1993, Esquires has engaged in ambitious global expansion in recent years. Today Esquires has more than 130 stores globally across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia.