Cambridge cafe boasts glowing reputation

The Robert Harris Coffee Roasters cafe has internal seating for 46. Photo / Supplied

Robert Harris Franchise Cafe, trading as Robert Harris Coffee Roasters, in the Waikato town of Cambridge, is being sold as a business going concern and for an asking price of $299,000 by Brendon Bradley, commercial and industrial broker with Bayleys Tauranga.

"The Robert Harris Cafe has the distinction of being the only franchise cafe in the Cambridge CBD," Bradley says.

"It comes with the latest brand fit-out that incorporates very impressive professionally designed front-of-house customer service/dining areas, attractively appointed restroom facilities along with a well-equipped and very functional commercial kitchen."

Robert Harris Cambridge at 39 Victoria St has won numerous awards, including the Waipa District's Excellence in Tourism/Hospitality award, Best Small Business award and the 2009 Supreme Excellence award.

"It's a destination cafe that's open seven days a week that has a huge reputation for excellent coffee with delicious quality food all prepared on site and hospitality to match," Bradley says.

Robert Harris Cambridge promotes healthy food choices through an Eat for Keeps programme which encourages low fat and low sugar options for diabetics and weight watchers together with gluten-free, vegetarian and natural "superfoods", such as green tea, blueberries, healthy shakes and natural acidophilus yoghurt.

The business has a "buy local" policy to help support other Cambridge district business suppliers, such as local orchards and free-range poultry farms.

The cafe provides internal seating for 46 patrons, including a soft seating area of table and lounge chairs, A further 20 can be seated in the internal courtyard area and 20 more on the outside pavement area.

"The owners, Fiona and Derek Glass, are selling due to family commitments and the demands of secondary business," Bradley says.

Interestingly, the roasting and retailing of Robert Harris Coffee was originally launched in Hamilton with the first Robert Harris Coffee Shop being opened in 1978 in Takapuna by Robert Harris.

In 1990, Cerebos Greggs bought the company and the licensed coffee shops, rebranding and franchising the outlets as Robert Harris cafes.

Robert Harris Cambridge was established after a cafe was bought in 2006 and the latest Robert Harris model was installed and opened for business on February 19, 2007.

"The business now has an established and successful 2-year trading history," Bradley says.

The cafe is open from Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 4pm; and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 4pm.

"The business is managed by Fiona Glass but she only averages around 20 hours per week in the business with about 10 hours rostered 'hands on' duties in the cafe overseeing the operation and another 10 hours spent on administration and purchasing duties. She also covers for absent staff members if required."

Bradley says the owners are prepared to give assistance to a buyer of the business for up to 10 working days after the possession date.

The business currently operates with a total of 11 staff - three full-time and eight part-time - who all have employment contracts. An assistant manager works full-time and manages the cafe in the absence of the owners.

Payroll is outsourced to a Cambridge company, Office Works, which has extensive knowledge of employment legislation and requirements.

"The national franchisor is responsible for national marketing including in-store promotions and core products including the popular Robert Harris loyalty coffee card that grantsevery eighth cup of coffee free to customers."

Posters and printed "table talkers" are supplied by Robert Harris as on-site advertising to inform customers about the latest food options.

Robert Harris also has a "buy-one-get-one free" campaign with vouchers in Woman's Weekly, Woman's Day and Entertainment Weekly to encourage customers to bring a friend to a Robert Harris cafe.

"Local advertising is the responsibility of the owner/franchisee," Bradley says. "Robert Harris Cambridge is promoted weekly in the Cambridge Edition and fortnightly in the Cambridge News."

Additionally, the Eat for Keeps campaign is promoted in the Waikato Times in conjunction with five other Waikato-based Robert Harris franchisees.

The cafe's staff expose customers to new products by offering small sample portions of new food items they may not normally try.

The customer base of Robert Harris Cambridge is primarily business and residential trade with a balance of male and female customers who are 35 years or older.

A large portion of business comes from meetings and discussion groups who can make use of the cafe'slarge board table, and from tourists at weekends.

"Robert Harris Cambridge is now a proven and leading-edge cafe in the beautiful country town of Cambridge that is poised for a new owner to take to its new level of operation and success," Bradley says.