The Lab at the Universidad ORT in Montevideo, Uruguay | Photo credit: The Lab Coffee Roasters

Montevideo-based specialty coffee chain The Lab Coffee Roasters has launched its first franchise programme to drive outlet growth across Uruguay and open the door to international expansion. 
 

Founded in 2015, The Lab currently operates six stores across the Uruguayan capital, including at prominent locations such as the National Museum of Visual Arts and the upscale coastal district of Punta Carretas. 

The family-run coffee chain has been working with Uruguayan franchise consultancy Surplus to ‘fine tune’ its franchise offer since the start of 2023 and is seeking partners to open small-footprint stores tailored for high footfall and low dwell time, as well as larger premises which will be more focused on in-store dining and food. 

“We have been preparing to start marketing franchises for over 18 months with the support of a specialised consulting team. Once the first franchises are operating in Uruguay and we feel everything is running smoothly, we will take the step to franchise internationally,” Sebastián Leyton, who oversees finances and plans new investments for The Lab, told World Coffee Portal. 

Alongside roasting for its own stores, The Lab supplies Horeca businesses and several private-label clients across Uruguay. The specialty coffee chain has been an official distributor of La Marzocco machines in Uruguay since 2015 and also supplies Nuova Point, Bodum and Hario products. 

Uruguay is one of the smallest countries in South America, with a population of around 3.5 million people – nearly two thirds of whom live in Montevideo. Its coffee shop market is primarily comprised of independent specialty operators, including two-site on-the-go chain Nómade Café, La Farmacia Café and Botanico.  

However, US coffee giant Starbucks has opened 16 stores since entering the market in 2018 while fast-food chain McDonald’s operates a combination of standalone McCafé kiosks and concession units across its 33 restaurants in Uruguay. 

In September 2023, Belgium’s Le Pain Quotidien opened its first Uruguay outlet at the Punta Carretas shopping centre in Montevideo. The bakery-café chain said it will invest $3.5m to open six further outlets in the South American country by 2028.