The French coffee chain is seeking to open 40 new stores annually over the next five years, with France, Canada and the Middle East identified as key growth markets
.jpg.aspx?lang=en-GB)
Columbus Café & Co plans to open at least 40 stores a year through to 2027 | Photo credit: Columbus Café & Co
French coffee chain Columbus Café & Co has set a target to reach 500 stores around the world within five years.
Founded in 1994, the Paris-based company achieved 28% outlet growth across France in the last 12 months to reach 230 stores.
Operating under a franchise model since 2007, Columbus Café & Co also has stores in Belgium, Luxembourg and Portugal, as well as Morocco, Tahiti, Bahrain and Canada.
The coffee chain now plans to open at least 40 stores a year through to 2027, enhancing its presence in the French travel retail segment following existing partnerships with Areas, Sodexo and SSP.
Columbus Café & Co has a target of reaching 15 outlets across Canada before the end of 2022 and 80 by 2025. It is also targeting growth of 20 stores in the Middle East via a new franchise partner and is currently exploring expansion into Poland.
Columbus Café & Co is the fifth largest branded coffee chain in France. The market is led by bakery chain Marie Blachère, which reached 700 outlets in France in July 2022.
World Coffee Portal forecasts the 4,000-strong French branded café market will exceed 4,570 outlets by 2027.