Full steam ahead for coffee shop chain
FORMER salesman Lee Chester has the taste for success after swapping copiers for coffee.
Mr Chester launched his first Centro Coffee & Juice bar in Aston under Lyne in 2007 after leaving Canon UK.
After the success of his new enterprise he is embarking on bold plans to grow Centro and with a target of 10 sites in the next 18 months.
His latest opening is in Altrincham – where he has received £100,000 in financial support from the Royal Bank of Scotland. he is already looking for sites in Liverpool and Cardiff and wants to open four more outlets in early 2010.
He said: “Opening my second store in the Altrincham is a very exciting development. My approach is to differentiate from the large high street brands by providing Centro’s customers with the finest coffee, smoothies and food served in a boutique environment, with bespoke fittings in each store.
“As the Centro brand becomes more widely known and loved I will be expanding across the UK, bringing back style and elegance to the coffee market and take it away from the fast food style environment that branded coffee houses are now becoming.”
RBS provided a £75,000 via the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme and a further £25,000 from Lombard, its asset finance arm.
Angela Bate, business development manager at RBS, said: “Lee has established Centro as a successful branded business in a competitive market thanks to his commitment and drive.
“He impressed us with his vision for the future development of Centro, and is clearly an ambitious and motivated individual who has brought an innovative concept to the coffee market.”
