Sri Lanka’s high, sophisticated individuals now into coffee drinking
Sri Lanka being a fast growing Asian country has plenty of young, urbane, high sophisticated individuals who travel abroad and have got used to the coffee culture. Professionals between the age 20 and 35 are the ones who mostly drink coffee without even looking at its price. Calamander Group Chairman Roman Scott made this statement to the Business Times on the sidelines of a media briefing held at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf outlet at the World Trade Centre in Colombo last week.
Adding to that Mr. Scott stressed that it is a 21st century lifestyle that is prevailing worldwide. In the market the coffee at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is known as ‘specialty coffee’ due to, according to him, its unmatchable natural flavour taste.
Mr. Scott also noted that the Calamander Group will be opening seven new Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf outlets in several provinces in the country serving major city hotels in the area. Those visiting the outlets would be the provincial professionals, he said, noting Galle, Kandy and Hambantota were interesting locations for Coffee Bean outlets.
An investment of Rs. 500 million has already been made on the three available Coffee Bean outlets in the island whereas another Rs. 500 million will be invested on the upcoming seven outlets, he added.
Calamander Group Investor and Board Director, David Hickman told the Business Times that coffee at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf outlet is expensive because of the quality of the ingredients and the taste it gives the customers. It is the lifestyle of the current generation who are willing to spend enough at the place they go to, sit with their friends and families and enjoy an evening of coffee that is worth its value.
“We are simply the best coffee in the world introduced in 1963 in California. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is ranked No. 02 in the world and No. 01 in Sri Lanka,” added Mr. Hickman.
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Sri Lanka’s premier specialty coffee and tea retailer and part of the California based brand’s international franchise network, launched ‘Origins’ to support its brand promise of being ‘Simply The Best’. It also launched a series of new food dishes as part of a planned extension of its popular pastry range and ‘bistro’ style food menu.
“Our customers have the right to know what they are eating and drinking, what goes inside, where it was made and by whom. You want to be able to trust quality and safety, and know it’s going to be consistent. Origin is everything,” said Mr. Scott speaking to the media. “I want customers to know the difference they get at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and to know how good our products are and why they sell at premium prices,” he added.