Caribibou Coffee currently operates 470 stores in the US | Photo credit: Caribou Coffee

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Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee is set for major US outlet expansion after signing franchise agreements for 329 new stores with multi-unit operators across the country.
 
In a press release Caribou said it had signed a multi-unit development agreement with franchisee Covelli Enterprises to open 100 stores across the US states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
 
Other agreements include a 60-store development with Mike Mariola Restaurants in the state of Ohio, 60 stores with Covelli Family Limited Partnership and 35 stores with Wake Up 727, both in the state of Florida.
 
Existing Panera Bread franchisees Paul Saber and Patrick Rogers, and Hamra Enterprises, will also open around 50 and 24 Caribou Coffee stores respectively across the states of Michigan and Missouri.
 
A timeline for the expansion was not disclosed.
 
Caribou Coffee announced a major expansion of its US franchise model in October 2021 and opened its first franchised store under the programme a year later.
 
“Over the past 30 years, Caribou Coffee has refined and elevated the guest experience through an unwavering commitment to quality, as well as strategic investments in innovation,” said John Butcher, President and CEO of Caribou Coffee.
 
“With a shared vision and commitment to Caribou’s core values, we’re thrilled to be further expanding our footprint nationwide alongside such experienced and passionate operators, and we look forward to supporting their success,” Butcher added.
 
Caribou Coffee is part of Panera Brands, a JAB Holding Company-backed group of fast-casual operators which includes Panera Bread and and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
 
Collectively, Panera Brands operates around 4,000 stores and employs 110,000 staff across 11 countries.
 
Founded in 1992, Caribou Coffee currently operates 765 stores in 11 countries, including around 470 in the US. Of these, 330 are company-owned, 294 are franchised and a further 141 are licensed outlets in offices, education campuses and travel hubs.
 
In 2019, Caribou launched its drive-thru and pick-up focused ‘cabin’ concept, and now operates 50 of the smaller-format stores across the US.
 
April 2023 saw the coffee chain drop its plant-based surcharge for Caribou Perks loyalty members in the US and said 20% of beverage orders were paired with either oat or almond dairy alternatives