Coffee Club Bethlehem Finalist in Two Business Awards

The Coffee Club Bethlehem Continues to Shine. Tauranga Store Named a Finalist in Two Prestigious NZ Business Awards

The Coffee Club Bethlehem has been named as a finalist in both the 2013/14 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards in the Best Franchisee category, and the 2013/14 Westpac Tauranga Business Awards.

This is not the first time that the Tauranga store has received recognition. Last year, the franchise holder, Ivy Joe, was awarded Food and Beverage Franchisee of the Year in the 2012/2013 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, going on to claim Supreme Franchisee of the Year.

“It felt fantastic to be named Supreme Franchisee last year. To be shortlisted again, and for the Tauranga Business Awards as well, is just further confirmation that we’re on the right track,” says Ivy. “It means that the decision I made to join The Coffee Club group six years ago was the right one. All of the hard work is paying off.”

Ivy originally owned her own business, with husband William. Both originally from Guangzhou, they established a Chinese restaurant and a café in New Zealand before deciding they wanted to try something different. They approached The Coffee Club after seeing how well the brand was doing in Australia.

“We could see how popular The Coffee Club was becoming overseas and knew that it wouldn’t be long before it really took off in New Zealand,” says Ivy. “We visited the first stores in Auckland and everything appealed, from the décor to the menu. We also liked the fact that the stores combined restaurant and café elements. It suited our backgrounds and meant we could draw on our own experience to make our store a real success.”

According to Ivy, the secret to the Bethlehem store’s success is simple.

“Be passionate about what you do,” says Ivy. “I love people and always want to make things better for my customers. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing you won’t survive those first few years in business. On top of that, remember that your employees are vital. Train them properly and treat them well. Our employees are involved in the business and if they perform well, they have the opportunity to progress and receive training, whether it’s as a chef, a barista or a manager. The result is that they are as keen for the business to succeed as I am. It’s a great position to be in.”

The Coffee Club Bethlehem can be found at 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga.

The 2013/14 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Award winners will be announced at an awards dinner on 16 November 2013. The Westpac Tauranga Business Award winners will be revealed on 1 November 2013.

For more information on The Coffee Club, visit www.thecoffeeclub.co.nz.

ENDS

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