Press release
Two innovative twenty foot shipping containers converted into upmarket cafes have won a coveted international food and beverage award for Brisbane Coffee Club multi-site franchisee, George Drivas.
George’s ground-breaking cafes, located outside Brisbane Airport’s Virgin and Qantas domestic terminals, beat a strong field of international hopefuls to take out the coveted Outstanding Originality in Food and Beverage Award at the Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) Awards held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Held annually, the Airport FAB Awards celebrate the best and most innovative projects in travel-related food and beverage and attract entries from fast food franchisors and independent outlets across the globe.
George said that he was thrilled to have won an award.
“Receiving such a prestigious award is a great endorsement of our innovative grab-and-go concept. For a Coffee Club Brisbane store to have won an international accolade is a tribute to our capability and strength in the food and beverage sector,” he said.
The Coffee Club pop-up cafes have a small store footprint and feature an expansive service counter, a grab-and-go menu, and impressive green credentials, including a rooftop garden.
When The Coffee Club introduced these unique concept stores back in 2014, the company set a precedent by becoming the first major franchised coffee chain in Australia to offer food and beverage from shipping containers. Fast forward and retail spaces in refurbished shipping containers are becoming increasingly popular as companies are looking at ways to maintain market share and stay relevant.
“By using shipping containers, The Coffee Club not only demonstrates a commitment to growing a sustainable business and innovative design, but also a competitive advantage over most of our rivals who continue to roll-out traditional store designs,” said George. “Winning an international award is testament to our growth strategy and ability to connect with our customers and offer something unique.”
The novelty still hasn’t worn off for George and thousands of passengers who travel through the domestic airport each year.
“Since day one, I’ve had people taking pictures and commenting on the store design. People stopping by for a cup of coffee as they make their way to and from the airport is amazing,” he said.
About The Coffee Club
Since opening its doors in Brisbane in 1989, The Coffee Club has become Australia’s largest home-grown café group with more than 400 cafés throughout 8 countries. The Coffee Club is owned by Minor DKL Food Group; a leading Australian retail food brand franchisor. Minor DKL Food Group is the franchisor and intellectual property owner of The Coffee Club, Ribs & Rumps Restaurants, The Groove Train and Coffee Hit franchise systems with a combined 410 restaurants in 11 countries. Minor DKL Food Group is also the owner of Veneziano Coffee Roasters, a leading speciality coffee roasting house supplying wholesale and retail customers throughout Australia from roasting facilities in Melbourne and Brisbane.