Coffee Shop News
Costa opens first store in Russia
UK
coffee chain Costa Coffee opened their first store in Russia in
March in Moscow's Puskin Square. According to John Derkach,
managing director, Russia could become the biggest single
foreign market for Costa and they plan to open 200 stores in
Russia over the next five years.
Costa is the
UK's biggest coffee chain ranked by number of stores.
(Financial
Times)
New York Baristas take on Starbucks
More
than 2000 New York baristas
claim they have been cheated because supervisors take some of
the tips. They are seeking $5 million in damages and have filed
a complaint in Manhattan's Federal District Court. The case
follows a March 20 ruling by a judge in San Diego, California,
ordering Starbucks to pay $105 million because the supervisors
took a share of tips. Starbucks says it will appeal against the
ruling stating that supervisors deserved a share of tips.
Under New York
labour law, employers are prohibited from taking employees'
tips.
(Bloomberg)
Coffee Republic to introduce free Wi-Fi access in coffee bars
Free
wireless Internet access will be made available for customer use
by Coffee Republic from 1 May 2008, across most of its UK coffee
bars, making it the UK's first coffee chain to provide free
Wi-Fi to customers.
The new service is being delivered by Commsport, following
successful trials, including Reading and Weybridge, implemented
in a number of bars during the past few months.
Coffee Republic is aiming the new service at its broad customer
base, adding value to the service they already receive in the
bars, for example enabling students to work on a project,
download music, or provide a comfortable mobile office for
business professionals.
The service will be offered in 50 Coffee Republic mainland UK
bars from 1 May 2008, with roll-out to further bars planned for
the coming months. Service is linked to purchase, with customers
gaining 20 minutes of Wi-Fi access when spending £2 minimum at
the bar, increasing to 45 minutes for a £5 spend, with users
being given a free Wi-Fi voucher with login code after they have
made their purchase.
(Telecomworldwire)
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