Founded in 1996, Zarraffa’s Coffee currently operates more than 70 locations across Australia | Photo credit: Zarraffa's Coffee

Zarraffa’s Coffee has opened its first drive-thru-only store in Beaudesert, Queensland, and plans to scale the concept across Australia.  
 

Managing Director Kenton Campbell said the ‘nimbler’, 970sq ft store offers a lower entry cost for franchise partners which could lead to ‘significant expansion opportunities’ for the coffee chain. 

“Our stores are significant operations and require a larger investment, but the drive-thru only model is modifiable and starts from around A$650,000 ($437,000). We are amped for growth and armed with a streamlined business model, plus a very long line of existing and potential franchisees ready to open more stores. While our core markets are fairly well saturated – especially southeast Queensland - there is still huge growth potential into regional Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia,” Campbell said. 

Founded in 1996, Zarraffa’s Coffee currently operates more than 70 locations across Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The coffee chain is seeking to reach 130 stores by 2026. 

The drive-thru-only store has been launched by existing franchisees Jordan Wyborn and Ashley Byers, who operate four additional Zarraffa’s Coffee stores near the Brisbane region of Queensland. 
 

Several Australian convenience retailers introduced or improved their drive-thru services in 2022 amid increased customer demand for on-the-go coffee. 

McDonald's, which first launched its McCafé concept in Melbourne in 1993, currently offers drive-thru services across 1,011 Australian stores. In 2021, McDonald’s reported that McCafé coffee was included in one in 10 of all McDonald’s orders.  

In July 2022, Australian restaurant chain Hungry Jack’s, which trades as Burger King internationally, announced the national rollout of 410 Jack’s Café outlets. The fast-food chain invested A$20m ($13.5m) into state-of-the-art equipment and rigorous training to deliver the ‘best coffee experience possible’. 

Domestic coffee chains Gloria Jean’s and The Coffee Club both opened their first drive-thru stores in 2015 and currently operate seven and eight drive-thru outlets across Australia respectively. 

In January 2023, Endeavour Group, owners of the BWS beer, wine and spirits retailer, and Double Shot, co-launched a new Double Shot drive-thru coffee concept in Tasmania alongside a newly-launched division of Australian-owned Oasis Griffiths Group (OG Group).