New Zealand-based hospitality business Epiphany Cafe is taking its premium donut and coffee concept into North America. It has appointed US-based consulting firm Franchise Genesis to handle the expansion.

Franchise Genesis will provide the initial strategic analysis, develop a franchise structure with documentation and state filings, advertising and marketing support, and deliver networking support through international franchise associations.

Today Epiphany Cafe numbers more than 62 franchised and licensed locations across New Zealand and has plans for further international growth.

The seven-year-old brand is the flagship food and beverage business of investment holding company Starfleet Innotech.

In June SFIO CEO and co-founder of Epiphany Cafe, Jeths Lacson, revealed the expansion plans.

“At the beginning of the year, we mapped out a two-year roadmap for 200 new Epiphany Cafe locations across New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia,” he said.

By June 2022 the cafe chain had more than doubled its domestic footprint since the beginning of the year. On the back of this growth the business is now moving into Malaysia, with the Philippines the next stop. A Melbourne launch is expected in 2023.

Epiphany Cafe is intended to be a foundation stone in Starfleet’s global expansion strategy. The firm will leverage the chain’s presence in new markets to develop further projects within a region.

Starfleet has built its business on food and beverage, real estate and technology investments. It currently has five brands, including Aussie commercial bakery Big Lou’s Donuts, in its food and beverage division. Epiphany Cafe is the only franchised business.

The story is originally published on Inside Franchise Business Executive.