New Kilkenny coffee house is latest in Esquires' success story

On the list of items most of us could not bear to be without, good coffee often ranks pretty high. Such customer devotion, coupled with an increasingly sophisticated range of products, has enabled Esquires Coffee to grab an increasing share of the market.

The latest addition to the Esquires Coffee franchise team in Ireland is Richie Mackey, who opened his shop in Kilkenny in September. Coming from a background in bar management he knows a thing or two about beverage preferences and was immediately impressed by the prospect of joining one of the fastest growing coffee house franchises.

"I had already formed a good impression of the company before I contacted them. Having done some research on how they operate, I met the other franchisees in Wexford, Carlow and Maynooth and was very impressed by their experiences. They were very positive about the whole process."

Richie said he had been looking at various franchise opportunities for some time. "The future of the bar trade in Ireland is very uncertain and rising prices have hit the licensed trade hard. In contrast, coffee houses have great potential - people are increasingly likely to socialise over a cup of coffee and there is a very enjoyable culture around it."

Taking on an Esquires franchise was also appealing from a lifestyle perspective because it meant he was able to turn his back on the late nights that are part and parcel of the bar trade. Having first met the company about a year ago, he signed on the dotted line in April and by the end of the summer was up and running in his shop on Kilkenny's High Street. The premises was previously a convenience store, but work had already commenced to convert it into a restaurant.

As a local, Richie might be expected to know a thing or two about doing business in Kilkenny and he is keen to praise it as a location despite the competitive nature of his particular business. "There are about 20-25 coffee shops in Kilkenny and they all have their own clientele," he says. "Customers are more sophisticated than ever when it comes to coffee and snacks and you need to set a high standard to attract and retain customers. Kilkenny is a very cosmopolitan city and there is no room for complacency in this market."

He was also full of praise for the support he has received from Esquires: "They have been excellent - their team is very experienced and hands on, they regularly visit and are always on the other end of a phone. Any teething difficulties we have had have been dealt with rapidly and expertly.

"I am very happy with the way things have gone for me so far and I would be happy to recommend Esquires Coffee to any prospective franchisee interested in getting in to the Café business."