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small London café chain has set its sights on turning into “the new Starbucks ” after securing a multi-million pound mortgage from a rich French aristocrat.
Knoops, which is understood for its luxurious scorching chocolate drinks offered at shops in Kensington , Covent Garden and Knightsbridge , plans to turbocharge its enlargement after it sealed a £6 million debt financing association led by Eléonore de Lubersac, the granddaughter of banking tycoon Raoul de Lubersac and great-granddaughter of northern French aristocrat and politician Guy de Lubersac .
According to investor paperwork seen by the Standard, Knoops is now eyeing as many as 200 shops within the UK and believes it “has the ability” to emulate the fast development mannequin of US chain Starbucks, by increasing to three,000 shops worldwide by 2030 with an annual turnover topping £3 billion.
William Gordon-Harris, CEO of Knoops, stated: “Knoops are delighted to verify the location of a £6m facility to allow the continued development that has seen the enterprise quadruple in measurement within the final 2 years.
“This debt funding aligns with our strategy to begin the international aspects of our ambition and follow our plan to create the new Starbucks for quality barista hot and cold chocolate drinks.
“We are delighted to have accepted a few limited new investors into the company, where they add industry and other strategic benefits.”
Gordon-Harris additionally boasts northern French aristocratic roots, being a descendant of the Champion de Crespigny baronets . The second baronet was MP for Southampton in the 19th century.
Another recent major investor in the company is Konstantin von Schweinitz, a polo-playing investment banker and a member of the German aristocratic von Schweinitz household . He is the grandson of former German navy rear admiral Hans-Hermann Graf von Schweinitz und Krayn.
Knoops started at a single outlet in East Sussex in 2013 arrange by founder Jens Knoop, who moved to the UK from Germany within the nineties. It has since expanded to 11 shops, with the lion’s share positioned in London.
The chain’s providing of indulgent scorching chocolate drinks, ice cream and milkshakes has proved a success with Londoners and vacationers alike, who’ve flocked to its shops to pattern the greater than 20 totally different forms of chocolate on supply.
More enlargement in London is already on the way in which, with a brand new outlet in Notting Hill to open in August. A retailer in Bath can be deliberate.
Jens Knoop informed the Standard the café chain’s later opening occasions – its Covent Garden website is open until 10:30pm on weeknights – was serving to it entice a wider buyer base that standard espresso retailers had been lacking out on.
“We are getting the post-theatre crowd or the after-restaurant crowd who want a hot chocolate on a chilly night,” he stated.
“There is an appetite for something new — this is about adding something to the culinary scene.”
