Cooks Global Foods has opened three new Esquires Coffee Houses in the Middle East and China, with a further two stores planned to open before Christmas.

In the Middle East, the 19th Esquires store opened in Bahrain, and the 20th in Kuwait.

The 21st Esquires store in China has opened in Zhengzhou, a north central city in the Henan region.

The company plans to have 86 Esquires stores open by the end of 2014, with a least a further 50 stores planned for 2015.

Existing stores will be gradually rebranded.

Keith Jackson, Cooks Global Foods chairman, said that the new stores feature a range of elements from the Esquires rebranding programme.

“In our designs we strive to achieve local personality and community focus as well as respecting local customs. An example is separate eating areas for men and women in some Muslim countries.”

“The aim is to promote harmony in the design between the customer and the environment. Local content graphics are developed for all stores including framed art pieces and local flavoured elements to create two way conversation.”

“But certainly with the rebranding the stores will very much promote New Zealand and our reputation for delivering both a pure New Zealand taste and natural design.”

The Esquires Coffee Houses brand and system is owned by Cooks Global Foods in Canada, UK and Ireland, where stores are also directly franchised.

In the Middle East and China stores are franchised through master franchise holders.