Luxury Italian coffee shop chain Ca'puccino plans London-wide expansion
An Italian coffee shop with branches in Italy and London is set for dramatic expansion in the capital after winning significant investment in a private equity deal.
The luxurious coffee shop, which sees itself as a competitor to the likes of Le Pain Quotidien and Patisserie Valerie, serves a range of coffees, pastries and paninis, each said to be selected due to their "authentic" Italian flavours and grouped on the menu according to the region they come from.
The coffee on offer is a fruity 100% Arabica blend from Latin America and India, while the cake and sandwiches change according to the seasonal ingredients available. Average spend per customer is around £6 for coffee and cake, and £15 for lunch.
"We try to be authentic. We are Italian, through the products we have, even the furniture," said Moncalvo. "We offer the food culture that you can find all over Italy. We want to provide a very high level of service for the same price as other coffee chains."
The owners hope to make a deal for the first new site in the next 45 days, although would not say exactly which part of the city they were considering.
"We are looking at many different locations, where you can find premium brands, but affordable. I like places like Marylebone, or South Kensington. I also like St Pancras station - it's more than a station, it's somewhere people love to go."
The current plan is to remain in the capital, but the company has not ruled out ventures further afield should the opportunity arise, including potential sites in Liverpool and Manchester.
Moncalvo said he was "optimistic" about the expansion plans, and suggested that it is easier to develop a chain in Britain than in Italy as he believed British people would be more likely than Italians to look for a brand they know.
Managing director of B4 Investimenti Fabrizio Baroni said that his company had chosen Ca'puccino from a selection of 120 possible projects, and was confident that the deal would be productive for at least the next two years if not longer.
"This is an Italian product, from a company that was ready to receive investment and needed support," he said. "This existing format is a good setup, and food is an amazing sector to invest in at the moment."
