Brothers Dillon and Samuel Zavos, will follow in their parents’ footsteps as they open the latest Zarraffa’s Coffee drive thru at Oxenford on the Gold Coast, this week.
The siblings will be amongst a select number of second generation store owners and operators for the Australian-owned specialty coffee chain; a trend that is cause for celebration says founder and CEO Kenton Campbell.
“I started this business 20 years ago as a way to support my family,” said Mr Campbell.
“What has been happening, somewhat under the radar, is increasingly the families of our franchisees have become involved in our stores and now the next generation are sharing the reins with their parents and forging their own journey with Zarraffa’s.”
Bill and Claire Zavos own and operate both the Hope Island and Runaway Bay stores, with sons Samuel and Dillon respectively running each store as manager, prior to Oxenford opening.
“Often our franchisees employ their kids as a way for them to earn some money while at school or uni but some will graduate to the family business, showing that the years training ‘on the tools’ have paid off and that it is something that they wish to pursue in the longer term,” said Mr Campbell.
Mr Campbell said it was highly rewarding to have built a franchise company that provides the means for so many livelihoods and careers.
“I’ve often said that not only are we a family business but a business of families, and I’m very gratified by that fact.”
Bill Zavos said it was an extremely proud moment to be able to ‘open shop’ not only in a thriving part of the Gold Coast but with both sons as franchisees side-by-side.
“Logistically I will be taking on an Area Manager role, overseeing all three of our stores, with Dillon managing the new Oxenford drive thru and Samuel looking after the other two stores,“ said Bill.
“We are passionate about this brand, our customers and the coffee and I think over the years we have instilled in our boys a similar outlook, with the business providing the means for them to carve out business careers as owners.”
The Oxenford store will service a booming part of the northern Gold Coast area and forms part of the multi-franchise strategy the company has been working on for many years.
Mr Campbell believes that there is value in every one of the franchisees in his business today.
“And while we need and want new blood in the system, we care about creating a business journey that is sustainable, profitable and with growth potential.”
“I’d say the success of this plan was never more in evidence than with the opening of Oxenford today.”
Zarraffa’s Coffee Oxenford (drive thru) is located at 42 Rivertree Avenue, Helensvale
Opening hours: 5am – 10pm, seven days a week