Are you tired of having to choose between a great coffee experience and a delicious breakfast sandwich? Well, look no further! Lakewood-based Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee have come together to create a unique concept called Coffee & Bagels. Since its launch last year, this innovative pairing has quickly gained popularity, with 42 locations in eight states.
More Than Just Bagels and Coffee
Coffee & Bagels is not stopping there. By the end of this year, they plan to open four more locations, bringing the total to an impressive 46 since the first store opened in Colorado Springs in September 2015. Recently, Denver and Boulder were among the latest cities to enjoy this exciting dining experience.
Sarah Spiegel, President of U.S. Retail and Chief Operating Officer for the brands, explains that the inspiration behind this concept came from consumer research. Many people faced a dilemma each morning – should they opt for a great coffee experience or a delicious breakfast sandwich? Coffee & Bagels offers the best of both worlds, allowing customers to enjoy both their morning cup of Joe and a tasty breakfast sandwich.
Steady Growth and Expansion
Coffee & Bagels shows no signs of slowing down. While there are no specific goals for the upcoming year, Spiegel assures us that more locations are on the horizon. Currently, all but three locations are company-owned, but they are now considering licensing opportunities.
Spiegel adds that the focus during the first year was to refine the concept and iron out any issues. However, with such promising growth, they feel confident in expanding through licensing agreements. This will enable the Coffee & Bagels experience to reach even more coffee and breakfast enthusiasts.
Caption: Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee recently opened a combined store in Lakewood, November 23, 2016. Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee has grown to 42 locations in eight states in less than two years.
A Perfect Marriage of Brands
The idea for Coffee & Bagels was born out of shared ownership between Colorado-based Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee. Both companies are owned by JAB Holding Co., an investment arm of Germany’s wealthy Reimann family. JAB has a stake in various well-known brands, including Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Keurig, Jimmy Choo, and Coty.
According to Darren Tristano, President of food industry research firm Technomic, successful co-branding ventures bring together complementary concepts that don’t overlap. Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins are an excellent example of this. They have found success by targeting different parts of the day – breakfast and lunch for Dunkin Donuts and evening and dessert for Baskin-Robbins. On the other hand, Yum Brands, the owner of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, is moving away from co-branding.
Coffee & Bagels has allowed both Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee to expand their reach into new markets. Florida, for instance, has been a strong market for Einstein, but Caribou Coffee had no presence there. Conversely, Minnesota, where Caribou Coffee is based, has been a powerhouse for the brand, while Einstein has yet to make a significant impact. Coffee & Bagels creates an opportunity for both brands to thrive in these untapped markets.
A Seamless Blend
Sarah Spiegel emphasizes that when implementing the Coffee & Bagels concept, their goal was to preserve the brands’ essence. The team behind this innovative collaboration wanted to create a seamless experience that feels like a perfect marriage of Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels. The result is a dining experience where it’s impossible to distinguish one from the other.
Coffee & Bagels is more than just bagels and coffee. It’s a delightful blend of flavors and experiences that aims to make your mornings extraordinary. So, if you find yourself torn between a great coffee or a delicious breakfast sandwich, now you can have both. Visit Marmalade Cafe and discover the perfect pairing of Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee.