Strong consumer demand for Greek-inspired food and cold coffee is driving outlet growth in Cyprus and Romania for the Athens-based operator
A Gregory’s store in Bucharest, Romania | Photo credit: Gregory’s
Athens-based Gregory’s has strengthened its European presence with new stores in Greece, Cyprus and Romania.
The coffee and food-to-go chain opened 15 new outlets in the first eight months of 2024 – 13 in its home market alongside single sites in Larnaca and Bucharest – to surpass 360 stores.
Gregory’s opened its first outlets in Cyprus and Romania in 2005 and now operates nine and four stores in each market respectively. The coffee chain told World Coffee Portal that its master franchise agreement in Romania should enable significant outlet growth over the next few years, with ‘dynamic growth’ also forecast in Cyprus.
In 2015, Gregory’s launched in Germany and currently has two outlets in Nuremberg. The business is ‘actively seeking’ a partner to further expand its presence in the country.
In a press release, Gregory’s said its international ambitions come amid heightened demand among European consumers for Greek-inspired food and cold coffee, such as Espresso Freddo and Cappuccino Freddo. The business is seeking to open 10 further stores across Greece, Cyprus and Romania by the end of 2024.
“We are thrilled to see Gregory’s continuing its expansion across Europe. The new store openings planned for 2024 underscore the growing demand for our unique offerings. Our success in markets like Cyprus and Romania, where our master franchise agreement will be a key growth driver, highlights our commitment to bringing authentic Greek flavours to even more cities across Europe,” said Anna Koliva, General Manager of Gregory’s.
Founded in Athens in 1972, Gregory’s is the second largest branded coffee chain in Greece behind Patras-based Coffee Island, which operates 450 stores across the country.
World Coffee Portal’s Project Café Europe 2024 forecasts the 2,000-store Greek branded coffee shop market will reach 2,300 outlets in 2029.