Canada's franchised cafe opens in Sydney

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If you want to set up a cafe business a partnership of property developer, hospitality expert and champion barista is probably a good start. And that’s the trio behind the latest cafe brand launch in Australia, Canada's franchised Presse Cafe which officially opened its doors in Sydney with a cocktail party attended by the Canadian Consul General.

Master franchisee for Australia and New Zealand, Tony Isaac explained “Australia has been missing a little French flair. We’ve been in business for two weeks and had a great response.”

Initially Isaac and partner Halim Hachem plan to open and operate five corporate stores before franchising the brand across the country. Hachem’s barista son Charlie is running the first store and will be responsible for future training of franchisees.

Finding the right venue, the ground floor of a commercial building near Circular Quay, was helped by Isaac’s property development experience. “This took two years to come to fruition,” said Isaac. “We want to be a blue chip tenant.” The second site has already been signed up in Sydney’s Elizabeth Street and is due to open in six months.

Veronique Boisjoly, marketing director for Presse Café, was on hand to oversee the Australian opening. “We are in the business of passion,” she said. In Canada there are more than 100 franchised outlets and the brand is due to be seen on the streets of Paris with a cafe launch in June.

The success of the brand is due to its mix of product and the café setting, explained Boisjoly. In Sydney a tight menu of sandwiches, French patisserie cakes and pastries are accompanied by a coffee serve specially blended to suit the Australian market. “We don’t want to impose but to adapt to the local culture,” said Boisjoly.