Creative Coffees partners with Netcare

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Effective from 1 November 2012‚ all 38 existing coffee shops situated in SA's Netcare hospitals will be converted under the Creative Coffees brand.

Famous Brands CEO Kevin Hedderwick said the group's stated growth strategy "is to increase Famous Brands's presence in various markets segments - the private hospital arena is an example of that."

Famous Brands‚ whose portfolio includes Wimpy‚ Debonairs Pizza and Steers‚ operates a model which combines franchising‚ logistics and manufacturing. At the end of August‚ the group had 2‚048 restaurants across SA‚ Southern Africa and the UK.

Hedderwick said last month the group would bolster the presence of its brands over the next six months by adding 134 restaurants in line with its aggressive growth plans.

MD of Netcare's hospital division‚ Jacques du Plessis‚ said the company was focused on quality service delivery at each level within its facilities.

"We are passionate about the quality of our service to patients and their loved ones and the Net Cafés at our hospitals countrywide form an integral part of the overall patient experience‚" Du Plessis said.

Creative Coffees' Net Café concept is a bespoke branded solution created and designed specifically for Netcare‚ comprising a convenience retail and restaurant offering.

Managing executive of Creative Coffees‚ Brent Kairuz‚ said the new Net Café outlets would be designed to deliver "an exceptional experience" to Netcare customers.

"This will include customised offerings in certain retail environments such as on-site preparation of flowers and gifts.

"Within a hospital environment‚ retail is a significant component of the overall sales mix of a hospital coffee shop because there is a strong demand from consumers for convenience purchases‚" Kairuz said.

He said the contract demonstrated the potential in SA "to develop branded solutions that have all the attributes of a high street brand‚ yet whose offerings are designed exclusively for the corporate client."

Hedderwick said the primary orientation of Famous Brands was that of "an integrated franchise system‚ and building great and enduring brands is our obsession".

"In this regard I am confident that Netcare's strong standing in its communities and Famous Brands's extensive experience in developing powerful franchised brands will serve to enhance the overall Netcare service offering‚" he said.