Cooke & Arkwright
News
Aroma of success at Coffee#1
17/06/04
Coffee#1 has opened a new outlet in Albany Road, Cardiff and is to open a further store later this year in Commercial Street, Newport. Acquisition of another South Wales store is said to be imminent.
Local entrepreneur James Shapland from Radyr, who founded the gourmet coffee store, says that he aims to open a further 20 premises throughout Wales within the next five years, eventually employing about 200 people. He currently has another outlet in Cardiff’s Wood Street and two in Bristol at Gloucester Road and Clifton Village.
Mr Shapland’s agent, Huw Thomas of Cooke & Arkwright confirmed that he is looking for suitable premises for Coffee#1 throughout South Wales and the borders. “We are looking for additional properties in Hereford, Abergavenny, the Cardiff suburbs, Bridgend, Swansea and Carmarthen,” said Mr Thomas. “The preference is towards period buildings with character, ideally with extra sales accommodation at first floor level.”
Mr Shapland spent two years in investment banking before the lure of running his own business brought him back to Wales. He developed the brand in July 2000 and the first store opened in April 2001. Turnover increased by more than 100% last year and is expected to double again to £1.5m by the end of 2005.