Australia’s Retail Food Group to target China

Australian-headquartered food and beverage retailer Retail Food Group says it will focus on greater China for its next phase of growth.

RFG is Australia’s largest multi-brand retail food franchise owner, developer and manager, with a network of more than 2500 outlets across 12 brands and 81 territories. RFG CEO international, Mike Gilbert, says the company plans to introduce a selection of its coffee-based retail food brands to Chinese consumers.

“We’re excited to replicate our successful Australian operations in the Chinese market and accelerate the growth of brands like Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Donut King, Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar, Brumby’s Bakery, Michel’s Patisserie, Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen, Cafe2U and It’s A Grind in the region,” he said.

The company also owns the BB’s Cafe, Esquires, The Coffee Guy franchise systems and the premium Di Bella Coffee Co brand.

Gilbert says RFG’s international expansion model is based on recruiting master franchise partners who purchase a license to develop a certain brand system in a defined territory, and provides the company and local partners with the opportunity to forge sustainable alliances.

A key strategy driving the group’s global growth is its hub network, which provides a platform for fast-tracking coffee and brand system expansion in international markets, whilst also more efficiently servicing the company’s existing markets.

RFG is developing a Middle East hub next year which it believes will help it expand quickly through the MENA region, whilst enabling the group to more efficiently service and grow brands  in the Gulf.

“We currently have hubs in Australia, New Zealand and the US, and plans for the Middle East underway, and will be looking to replicate them in Asia and Europe,” said Gilbert.