Tearoom entrepreneurs launch UK-wide expansion plans
Two entrepreneurial Huddersfield brothers have launched a major expansion plan for their CREAMS team rooms.
Teyeb and Unzar Aleem launched their first venue in Leeds in 2015, and are now rolling out a franchise scheme across the UK, with plans for 100 stores in the next five years.
The Aleems have already invested £350,000 in the refurbishment and reopening of their Leeds city centre venue, and are now looking at further sites.
They opened four new stores this year in Bolton, Derby, Canterbury and Bluewater in Kent, which opened this week following £400,000 investment.
Further venues are to be opened in Livingston and in two central London locations later in the year.
Having created 70 jobs to date, the Aleem brothers are aiming to create another 300 jobs within the next two years.
Operations director, Teyeb Aleem, who had previously worked with Intel, Fujitsu and Asda, said: “There’s a big gap in the high street market for a high quality, high class tea room aimed at the thousands of aspirational millennials seeking to replicate the sophisticated lifestyles of the celebrities they see on TV and online, and follow on social media.”
“CREAMS British Luxury aims to fill this gap and do it in a fashion that ensures young people can savour a taste of the celebrity high life without having to venture outside their local city centre or shopping centre.”
In order to turn their concept into reality, the Aleem brothers appointed former Cash Converters CEO and franchise expert, Mark Lemmon on a consultative basis
“The demand for quintessentially British products in overseas markets is incredibly high and CREAMS ticks all the boxes,” added Teyeb. “Incredibly we’ve taken orders from 28 different countries for branded products without doing anything more than setting up an online retail site.”
“With good marketing and local venues those who manage to secure an international franchise will undoubtedly reap the benefits of the worldwide love of British teas.”
“CREAMS British Luxury can do for the traditional afternoon teas what Starbucks has done for coffee,” concluded Unzar. “We really are that confident.”
