Filli Cafe plans to open 100 outlets in UAE by 2020; eyes global franchises

The brand sells 30,000 cups of tea per day and has grown to 15 outlets in the UAE, with four more set to open in the near future.

Filli Cafe, a popular tea brand in the UAE, announced on Monday its international expansion plan, with an eye on markets in the GCC, North Africa, UK, USA, Canada, India and Pakistan. It has already signed off the first franchise for five outlets in Qatar.
The brand has made its presence felt in the UAE market since 2004. The brand sells 30,000 cups of tea per day and has grown to 15 outlets in the UAE, with four more set to open in the near future.
Company founder and CEO Rafih Filli said: "We have been building our flagship brand Fillicafe in the UAE market with some unique concepts. We believe it's time for us to expand our reach globally. We have some ambitious plans for growth in both regional and international markets. Our aim is to target a mix of new markets in various GCC countries, UK, US, Canada, India, Pakistan and North Africa."
Filli Cafe intends to open 100 outlets in the UAE by 2020. By the year 2017, it plans to open 30 stores in the UAE, with 70 operating franchises all over the world. While the outlets in the UAE will be 100 per cent owned by Filli, the franchise option will be available in all other countries.
The brand has set up a dedicated team for expansion in the UK and India. Fillicafe has already identified 300 locations in the United Kingdom.