The Real McCoy brings a premium brand to premium outlets

We sent our Business Manager Dave Eley out to talk to our caf é customers to understand what is making them tick in the current climate, and how their relationship with Frucor Suntory is beneficial to growth. Here’s what they had to say.

Tatiana and Richard, Robert Harris, Whakatane

Tell us about yourselves – how long have you owned your Robert Harris café and what is your background?

We have been at Robert Harris Whakatane for almost two years. We came back to Richard’s hometown of Whakata - ne after a decade of living in Switzerland where we had a popular chocolate factory and café We are proud to have won the Rookie of the Year award to be acknowledged as the best new Robert Harris café owners at last year’s franchise conference.

What’s your experience been like with Frucor Suntory and how do they align to your business?

Installing an open air chiller to better display our bottled drinks was one of the first major improvements we made to the café after taking over. It gave the café a fresh, new look and made over-the-counter bottle sales much less time consuming for staff. Most importantly, our bottle sales have increased significantly, with a more than 24% uplift.

Our Development Manager Rodney made the process extremely easy and he is always helpful and supportive of our business.

What do you enjoy best about the Frucor Suntory portfolio?

We appreciate the variety available to us and we are always keen to try new products or promotions.

What would you say to anyone who’s considering partnering with Frucor Suntory or stocking their beverages? Go for it! Frucor Suntory has trusted brands which cater to everyone in the family and really compliment most menus.

Sam, Common Ground Café, Wellington

What drew you to partner with Frucor Suntory?

Before we started Common Ground Café, we had a previous working relationship with Frucor Suntory. This played an important role in establishing our current partnership and the support has been outstanding. Common Ground Café is targeted towards higher-end customers, and we feel that the Frucor Suntory portfolio, in particular the new glass range from The Real McCoy, aligns really well with our other products and overall vibe of the café

What do you enjoy best about the Frucor Suntory portfolio?

Common Ground Café is part of the Waitohi Hub which consists of a kindergarten, Keith Spry swimming pool, and Johnsonville library. This means we have a wide range of customers visiting our café through the various resources surrounding our business.

What we love the most about Frucor Suntory’s portfolio is the wide range and the versatility of the products that suit all our customer’s needs, whether it be kids after story time at the library, energy drinks for swimmers or juices for mums.

What excites you about the upcoming / ongoing partnership with Frucor Suntory?

We are excited that Frucor Suntory are always willing to innovate as they understand what the consumer likes and desires. This is illustrated in the brand refresh across The Real McCoy range, and how it’s tailored to cater to café environments which have different requirements to a dairy or bakery.

What would you say to anyone who’s considering partnering with Frucor Suntory or stocking their beverages?

Frucor Suntory offers a great, reliable service with an easy ordering system. Their sales reps are always keen to partner up and work with you to achieve any promotion or marketing event that you want to run.

Jon Hassall, Chief Operating Officer

– Café Brands (Columbus Coffee)

What drew you to partner with Frucor Suntory?

Columbus Coffee initially partnered with Frucor Suntory due to access of a full portfolio, strong brands and its commitment to NPD and innovation. Over the years, we have fostered a strong partnership based on trust, alignment on common values (including sustainability measures) and the teams just work really well together.

What do you enjoy best about their portfolio?

Frucor Suntory have a broad offering with award winning brands. They are constantly innovating and improving their range, offer and level of service, and communication of their intentions and news is managed really well.

What excites you about the ongoing partnership with Frucor Suntory?

Columbus Coffee is in an exciting growth phase including new locations, new formats, and new daytime offerings. We believe Frucor Suntory are the right partner to be on this journey with us.

Together we are working through a 12-month partner marketing plan. It’s halfway through the year now and we’re seeing a lot of value in executing this way compared to a more generic/ad hoc approach. Our plan is built on our customer data with bespoke outcomes and milestones that both parties are working towards.

What would you say to anyone who’s considering partnering with Frucor Suntory or stocking their beverages?

My ongoing experience of the partnership is incredibly positive. I enjoy the level of support and communication and I know when problems arise – inevitably, they do too. We have a robust and respectful relationship to ensure swift and positive resolutions.

The entire team are positive, practical, effective and to fun to be in partnership with.

Columbus Coffee was born way back in ’94, amidst a nation of devout tea drinkers.

Four Kiwi coffee aficionados met over an espresso and decided they wanted to share a different kind of coffee experience. After much crafting, the original Columbus Coffee café opened its doors in Auckland’s bustling High Street.

With this new type of café, Columbus Coffee started the conversation about premium coffee and true café experiences. A conversation that has continued on with great momentum and influenced many of today’s cafés. Columbus Coffee now numbers over 70 locally owned cafés, including those situated in Mitre 10 MEGAs –a highly successful partnership with another trusted Kiwi brand.

And through this growth their focus has remained the same – variety, freshness, quality and a welcoming experience. Columbus Coffee hope every customer visit leaves them feeling refreshed and inspired to return.