The Coffee Club New Zealand

What The Coffee Club New Zealand does

The Coffee Club New Zealand is the master franchisee and operator of The Coffee Club brand in New Zealand, running a network of 65-67 cafés and restaurants nationwide under two formats: a fully licensed Cafe Bar Restaurant with table service and extended hours, and a counter-service Cafe typically located in shopping centres. Founded in New Zealand in 2005 by master franchisees Brad Jacobs and Andy Lucas (whose NZ support office is headquartered at 11 Cheshire Street, Parnell, Auckland), the business operates within the broader The Coffee Club system that traces back to a 1989 Australian launch and now spans 400+ cafés globally. The NZ entity earns revenue primarily through a 6% franchise royalty and 3% marketing levy on system-wide café sales, supplemented by VIP Club annual subscriptions (NZD $35 digital / $40 physical, auto-renewing for 20% off bills) and gift card sales (NZD $10-$999 loadable, 36-month validity), with 50+ independent franchisees as its B2B customer base and end consumers across general public, families, businesspeople, shoppers, and travelers as its B2C base.

The company's underlying technology is operational rather than disruptive: it deployed a QR-code Table Ordering System across all 67 cafés in March 2024 (the first major NZ café chain to do so), uses Loring Coffee Roasters equipment that consumes approximately 25% less gas than traditional roasters, and integrates Deliverect Direct for online ordering alongside Stripe and eWay for payment processing. The VIP Club loyalty program is delivered digitally through Apple Wallet and Android Passes, with PCI DSS-compliant payment handling. The franchise model delivers a turnkey business opportunity with $440,000-$480,000 initial capital outlay, comprehensive initial training, national marketing support, and ongoing operational oversight via Business Development Managers. Brand and reputation moat is supported by multiple Westpac NZ Franchise Awards (including 2025 Franchise System of the Year and Supreme Franchisee), recognition as best performing international market within the global Coffee Club network, and long-standing charitable partnerships with KidsCan, SPCA, Make-A-Wish, Pet Refuge and local sports teams contributing over $100,000 annually. The company is privately held by its two co-directors with no venture capital or private equity backing, and has no subsidiaries, M&A activity, or public funding rounds disclosed.

Name

The Coffee Club New Zealand

Legal name

The Coffee Club Franchising (NZ) Limited

Website

https://thecoffeeclub.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Coffee Club New Zealand operates a master franchise network of 65+ cafés and restaurants across New Zealand under two formats (licensed and counter-service), serving general consumers all-day dining and coffee. The company earns revenue through 6% franchise royalties, 3% marketing levies, VIP Club subscriptions, and gift cards across 50+ franchisees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Café and Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cafe-Bakeries (Coffee + Pastry Focus) (THAFADAG)

Keywords

• Franchise cafe chain
• Specialty coffee
• Casual dining restaurants
• Cafe loyalty program
• Franchise business opportunity

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Ongoing franchise fees charged at 6% of sales plus 3% marketing levy. Initial franchise investment ranges from $440,000 to $480,000 covering franchise fees, training fees and cafe fit-out.
2. Retail Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from sale of food and beverages at company-owned or franchisee-operated cafe locations
3. VIP Club Membership: Annual subscription loyalty program generating $35/year for digital membership or $40/year for physical card
4. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards with loading amounts between $10-$999, valid for 36 months from purchase

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Coffee Club New Zealand is a franchise café and restaurant chain offering all-day breakfast and lunch menus, gourmet sandwiches made on-site, specialty coffee and cold beverages across 65+ locations nationwide. The company operates two formats — fully licensed Café Bar Restaurants with full table service and extended hours, and counter-service cafés typically located in shopping centres — supported by a VIP Club loyalty subscription, reloadable gift cards, and a QR-code table ordering system rolled out across all stores.

Product overview

The Coffee Club New Zealand operates as a franchise café and restaurant chain with two primary dining experience formats: a fully licensed cafe bar restaurant with full table service and extended hours, and a standard café store typically located in shopping centres with counter service. The company offers an all-day menu spanning breakfast, lunch, and dinner options alongside expertly crafted coffee and cold beverages. Supporting the core café business, the company maintains a VIP Club loyalty program (digital and physical card options providing 20% off bills for $35/year), a gift card product (valid for 36 months, loadable from $10-$999), and a QR code-based table ordering system launched across all 67 cafes. The franchise model provides aspiring business owners access to a proven system with training, operational support, and national marketing backing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Coffee Club Café and Restaurant Full-service café and restaurant chain offering all-day breakfast and lunch menus, gourmet sandwiches made on-site, specialty coffee, cold beverages, cakes and light bites. Operates two formats: a fully licensed Café Bar Restaurant with table service and extended hours, and a counter-service café typically located in shopping centres.
• VIP Club Loyalty Program Yearly subscription-based loyalty club offering 20% off total bill all day every day, exclusive VIP-only offers, and member giveaways. Available as a digital card (Apple Wallet/Android Passes) for $35 per year or a physical card for $40 per year, with annual auto-renewal.
• The Coffee Club Gift Card Reloadable gift cards purchasable and redeemable at any The Coffee Club café in New Zealand. Loadable amounts range from $10 (in-store) or $20 (online) up to a $999 maximum. Cards are valid for 36 months from purchase date.
• The Coffee Club Franchise Opportunity Master franchise opportunity offering aspiring café owners a proven business model with comprehensive initial training, established operating systems, national marketing, supplier relationships, and ongoing operational support via Business Development Managers. Investment ranges from approximately $440,000 to $480,000 with 6% franchise fees and 3% marketing fees on ongoing sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $400 in annual VIP membership benefits for average member
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• SPCA New ZealandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership dating back to 2014 supporting SPCA Cupcake Day, Annual Street Appeal, Give to Get Them Home, Matched Giving and Pets of the Year competition. The Coffee Club joined SPCA Certified programme ensuring cage-free eggs are from SPCA Certified farms. Sponsored 2025 Pets of the Year calendar competition raising $92,900.
• KidsCanmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Long-standing charitable partnership since 2009. The Coffee Club makes annual financial contributions, volunteers time, and shares the KidsCan story with customers. 70c from every fluffy purchased is donated to KidsCan. In 2024, KidsCan distributed 5+ million food items, 50,000+ jackets, 40,000+ pairs of shoes and 50,000+ health products to children in need.
• Make-A-WishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly donor partnership where supporters receive free coffee vouchers from The Coffee Club when signing up as Wish Heroes to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.
• Pet RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to raise funds for pets and families escaping domestic violence. Free puppuccinos offered at dog-friendly cafes with $2 donation per puppuccino served during campaign periods.
• Pride PledgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValues-based commitment to celebrate diverse workforce and show importance of representation. Brad Jacobs and Andy Lucas signed the Pride Pledge on behalf of franchisees.
• Sweet LouiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting women and men living with terminal breast cancer. The Coffee Club is a Service Provider enabling Sweet Louise members to redeem Service Vouchers at cafes.
• Hibiscus Coast Raiders Rugby League ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal sports sponsorship supporting youth rugby league in Auckland.
• 2Fresh Touch Rugby TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of local Auckland touch rugby team supporting community health and active lifestyles.
• Musashi Nutrition NZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for protein shake and protein powder offerings at The Coffee Club cafes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Hudsons Coffee: Australian specialty coffee chain with franchise and licensed-store model. Comparable on franchise economics, cafe format and coffee-led menu but primarily Australian footprint.
• The Coffee Club Australia: Parent/origin brand of The Coffee Club, operating 250+ cafes in Australia. Same brand, menu, and franchise DNA but operates in a different geography; useful for unit economics and franchise fee benchmarking.

Broad incumbents

• Starbucks New Zealand: Global coffee chain with NZ presence. Overlaps with The Coffee Club on coffee-led cafe format and trade-area competition but operates as part of a much wider global portfolio rather than a NZ specialist.
• Costa Coffee: UK-origin coffee chain with international presence including cafes in some Asia-Pacific markets. Comparable on coffee-led cafe format and franchise/licensed expansion, though operates across broader geographies.
• McCafé (McDonald's NZ): Coffee offering within McDonald's NZ locations, competing for the same grab-and-go coffee and casual breakfast occasion as The Coffee Club. Different parent and operating model but overlapping target customer.

Direct peers

• Mojo Coffee: NZ-headquartered specialty coffee chain with multiple cafes across the country. Directly comparable to The Coffee Club on format (coffee-led cafe), geography (NZ-only footprint), and customer base (everyday consumers, commuters, shoppers).
• Esquires Coffee NZ: NZ franchise cafe operator focused on community neighbourhood locations with all-day menu. Comparable to The Coffee Club on franchise-based growth, cafe format and product mix.
• Muffin Break: Australia/NZ cafe-bakery franchise chain combining coffee with muffins and light meals. Comparable on franchise model, cafe-bakery format, all-day breakfast/lunch positioning and trans-Tasman footprint.
• Columbus Coffee: NZ franchise cafe chain offering all-day breakfast, lunch and coffee with multiple locations. Closely comparable on franchise model, menu breadth, NZ footprint and customer demographic to The Coffee Club.
• Robert Harris: Established NZ cafe chain with regional coverage, known for breakfast and coffee menus. Comparable on NZ geographic focus, cafe format and customer demographic to The Coffee Club.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thecoffeeclubnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-coffee-club-new-zealand

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Coffee Club New Zealand