Gloria Jean's Coffees aims to collaborate with more cooperatives

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas), through its subsidiary Wonderful Lifestyle Sdn Bhd (WLSB), which is the master franchisee of the Gloria Jean’s Coffees brand, aims to collaborate with more cooperatives to open 10 new branches within five years.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees recently expanded its network by opening a new branch in Menara Felda, Platinum Park KLCC. 

The opening was launched by Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh. This 47th branch belongs to Felda’s cooperatives body called Koperasi Kakitangan Felda Malaysia Bhd (FELKOP).

Pernas exco committee chairman Datuk Abu Bakar As-Sidek Mohd Sidek called for more cooperatives to venture and invest in the franchise industry, especially Gloria Jean’s Coffees, because WLSB can help cooperatives in terms of consultation, training and theory as well as guidance to ensure return on investment within a set period of time.

“The potential of the coffee business in the field of franchising needs to be explored by the cooperative and critically examined.

“The culture of drinking coffee is seen to be gaining ground among the community and this development opens up opportunities for them to venture into the field of entrepreneurship thus boosting the country’s premium coffee industry, in line with efforts to improve the economic status of the community,” he said in a statement.

Abu Bakar, who is also a member of the WLSB board of directors, said the opening of the branch by FELKOP is expected to be a benchmark for other cooperatives to explore opportunities to venture into and invest in the Gloria Jean’s Coffees franchise.

“In addition, Pernas also provides opportunities for potential entrepreneurs not only to individuals but also to cooperatives interested in becoming entrepreneurs by providing various forms of facilities such as advisory services, financing and training programmes to help them to start a business, especially in the field of franchising,” he said.

Pernas has so far approved financing for 45 Gloria Jean’s Coffees entrepreneurs to start a business with a total financing of RM13 million.

Pernas provides a financing loan scheme of up to 70 per cent (subject to terms and conditions) for potential entrepreneurs.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees is the only international gourmet coffee brand that offers a franchise system in Malaysia to encourage new entrepreneurs to venture into this field and subsequently become “coffeepreneurs”.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees offers three franchise concepts to those interested in venturing into this business, which are shop lot, kiosk and coffee cart concepts.

-- BERNAMA