The Dubai-based Coffee Planet has joined forces with companies from the US and the UK to expand in the region, backed by its commitment to new technology.
In an exclusive interview with
Caterer Middle East
, CEO Kerem Camcigil and director Matthew Yorke Smith announced the company’s move into the hotel, retail and foodservice sectors.
Providing hotels with coffee, customised service, and its outlay in after sales service is the company’s selling point, according to Yorke Smith.
“We send maintenance engineers to the clients before they are even aware of any technical problems, and our GSM (global system for mobile communication) systems can detect temperatures and the volume of drinks produced on any hour during any week,” Yorke Smith commented.
Yorke Smith said the company’s chief obstacle is contracts at properties, however both new openings and established hotels remain prime targets. He said the company refuses to work from a “low base”, in order to counteract problems caused by companies not paying attention to machines placed in businesses.
“We plan to go to the next stage which is a combination of three groups: ourselves, Union Coffee Roasters and US-based coffee machine manufacturer Concordia Systems, We recently started working with Kempinski Mall of the Emirates and Le Meridien Dubai, and we are talking with several other groups,” said Camcigil.
Camcigil said the company’s ‘first fix or swap’ policy for its machines has proven a key selling point in the hospitality industry.
East London-based Union Coffee Roasters recently showcased its products to executive chefs and professionals from Dubai’s hospitality industry, in a bid to boost Coffee Planet’s presence in the region.
The company, which sources its beans from 18 origins, has been supplying its products to Coffee Planet for two years, and has gained particular interest from independent hotels and cafes.
“We work in up to 18 countries, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala and Rwanda. There are now tea and wine sommeliers, yet the coffee industry is stopping itself from developing in that way,” said Jeremy Torz, roastmaster, Union Coffee Roasters.
Camcigil revealed the company plans to open standalone cafes in the future, featuring fully seated layouts and waitress service. Coffee Planet also recently moved into the region’s retail sector.
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