INDEPENDENT coffee shop chain Bob & Berts has created 26 jobs with the opening of a new store in Cookstown as part of a further expansion across the UK, with plans for at least eight more shops this year.
The chain, founded in Portstewart in 2013 by Colin McClean, currently has 15 stores in Northern Ireland, five stores in Scotland and three in England.
It has invested £250,000 to transform a former restaurant unit on Church Street in Cookstown into a new store reflective of Bob & Berts unique brand and style.
Bob & Berts also revealed it wants to open between eight and 10 new stores this year, with a particular focus on England, where its recently opened coffee shops have performed ahead of expectations.
Its fourth store in the north of England will open in Bury at the end of April, with a sixth Scottish store set to open in Perth in May.
Colin McClean, founder of Bob & Berts, said: “The strength of our brand and confidence in it is reflected in the fact that the business has successfully opened four new stores during the Covid-19 pandemic, all of which have performed better than our original forecasts.”
David Ferguson, co-owner of Bob & Berts, said: “We have been blown away by how the brand and our offering has been received in each of the locations where we’ve opened in the last couple of years, which have obviously been challenging for all hospitality businesses.
“We are entering a new phase of growth and very much focused on expanding our brand right across the UK.
He added: “Customers have already responded really positively to the new Cookstown store. Since Colin first set up Bob & Berts, we have aimed to offer something different to large multi-national coffee chains.
“Our branding, food selection and interior design sets us apart from our competition and we believe that we have created an environment which encourages people to relax.
“As we continue to expand across Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, all of our new coffee shops are being created with this culture in mind.”
