85 °C Bakery Cafe (Chinese: 85?C; pinyin: 85 Dù C) is a Taiwanese chain of coffee shops and self-serve bakeries operated by Gourmet Master Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 2003 by tea shop owner Wu Cheng-Hsueh and has an estimated yearly revenue of NT$22.047 billion. It has 1000 locations worldwide in Taiwan, China (including Hong Kong), Australia, and the United States. Known as the "Starbucks of Taiwan", the company opened its first US location in Irvine, California in 2009.
As of 2016, the chain has locations in Taiwan (400 stores), China (535 stores), United States (25 stores), Hong Kong (8 stores), and Australia (7 stores). The chain is known for their sea salt coffee, made by sweetening their iced Americano and adding a sea salt whipped cream on the top. This coffee has been featured on TIME Magazine, CNN, and NPR. The concept of this drink supposedly came from the Taiwanese habit of sprinkling salt on fruit to bring out the sweetness. In addition to coffee, the chain also sells teas and smoothies.
The bakery's parent company (Gourmet Master Co. Ltd) became publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in November 2010, with 3.85 million shares in its IPO. In 2016, 67% of the chain's revenue came from China, while 18% came from Taiwan. In 2013, the average US store generated more than US$700,000 in monthly sales, seven times more than an average store in China. The Irvine branch that opened on 26 September 2009, is the company's highest grossing store.
In March 2017, the chain's United States central kitchen in Brea, California became its first solar-powered facility worldwide. The facility is expected to generate 527,702 kWh of power annually.
Video 85C Bakery Cafe
History
When Wu Cheng-Hsueh was having coffee with his wife, the idea came to him that he could serve coffee and breads for customers at a low price. He had owned a barbershop, a shoe-material processing plant, a marble factory and bubble-tea and pizza chain stores. Wu incorporated the company in January 2003 and opened the first shop in Bao-Ping, Taipei County (now New Taipei) in July 2004. The shop was soon serving around 2000 guests per day and selling over 2000 cups of coffee. He opened a second shop in Yuan Toun, Taipei County in August 2004. Following the success of the two stores, a third store was opened in Goun Yi, Taichung, which marked the beginning of the franchising name 85°C in November 2004. The name "85C" refers to Wu's belief that 85 °C (185 °F) is the optimal temperature to serve coffee.
In September 2006, the company opened its first Australian store in Sydney. A year later, the first store in China was opened in Shanghai. With a rapid business expansion, the first store in U.S. was opened in 2008 in Irvine, CA, and Hong Kong in 2012. The US central kitchen began operations in September 2013.
Maps 85C Bakery Cafe
See also
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of companies of Taiwan
References
External links
- 85C Bakery Cafe on Facebook
Source of article : Wikipedia
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