Coffee Republic plc, the British coffee and deli bar operator, will enter the Bulgarian market under a franchise arrangement with Property Links International.

The news, announced in a filing with the British stock exchange, was confirmed by Coffee Republic’s partners in Bulgaria. This is first international deal for Coffee Republic.

The first outlet of the British cafe chain will like open in a mall-like shopping and entertainment center under development in Black Sea resort Sunny Beach. It is due for launch in mid-2007.

Coffee Republic is also in talks to lease outlets in shopping malls in Varna and Sofia, said the Property Links representatives for Bulgaria. The British company plans to open up to 10 cafes in Bulgaria over the next 3-4 years.
Property Links is a master franchisee which means it can franchise the Coffee Republic outlets to third parties.

Coffee Republic is the second speciality coffee chains to launch operations in Bulgaria. It follows in the footsteps of LSE-registered coffeeheaven which arrived here a year ago.

Britain’s Costa Coffee is poised to enter the market within the next couple of weeks.
Austria’s Testa Rossa also has plans regarding the Bulgarian coffee house market but is yet to make a move.
coffeeheaven currently shares the market with locally-owned cafe chains Onda and Coffee House.

Source: Franchise-Hit ^[1]

Related:

• Bulgaria specialty coffee chains caught in frivolous pricing war ^[2] [Dnevnik]
• British cafe chain Costa Coffee opens first outlet in Bulgaria ^[3] [Dnevnik]