Gloria Jean’s Coffee is primed for a significant growth phase in Australia, following a series of strategic actions by its parent company, Retail Food Group (RFG). After acquiring the boutique café chain CIBO Espresso, RFG plans to transition many of these outlets into Gloria Jean’s, boost customer experience with refreshed store formats, and reinforce the brand’s franchise value proposition nationwide. 

In November 2024, Retail Food Group purchased 22 CIBO Espresso locations in South Australia for $2.7 million, with the intent to convert the cafés into Gloria Jean’s stores and strengthen its presence in the region. RFG has earmarked an additional $1.3 million in incentives to support franchise partners in the transition — covering rebranding and equipment upgrades designed to stimulate network growth.

Strategic Brand Reset and Growth Focus for 2026

According to RFG’s investor update, Gloria Jean’s is undergoing a strategic brand reset to modernise its café experience and position itself more effectively in the competitive coffee market. The initiative includes introducing contemporary store designs, enhanced beverage offerings and improved customer service environments that reflect evolving consumer preferences — with plans to complete over 50% of the network refresh by 2026.(Source: announcements.asx.com.au)

The brand’s revitalisation follows broader strength in RFG’s café, coffee and bakery division, which outperformed several restaurant segments in recent financial reporting — underlining the resilience of coffee retail even amid a challenging economic backdrop. (Source: World Coffee Portal)

Retail Food Group currently operates around 138 Gloria Jean’s stores in Australia and has expanded globally across more than 30 countries, offering franchise partners opportunities for both domestic and international growth. 

Executive Insight

Matt Marshall, CEO of Retail Food Group, commented on the CIBO Espresso acquisition and brand strategy:

“This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategic goal to grow our core brands in the café, coffee and bakery channel and is an important step to deliver Gloria Jean’s bold ambition to become the most visited beverage destination in the world.”

His statement reflects RFG’s commitment to enhancing network scale, franchise support systems, and customer value propositions as Gloria Jean’s continues to evolve.

Early Path to Growth

Key components of Gloria Jean’s growth strategy include:

• Network conversions: Transitioning CIBO Espresso outlets into Gloria Jean’s cafés to boost footprint in SA and other regions. 

• Brand modernization: Rolling out refreshed store designs and beverage innovations to reinvigorate customer appeal. 

• Franchise incentives: Offering capital and equipment support to franchise partners for rebranding and upgrades. 

• International opportunities: Leveraging RFG’s global infrastructure for potential export or licensing expansion beyond Australia. 

Gloria Jean’s Coffee Australia Store Growth (2022–2026)

While some acquired café sites have faced challenges — including a few closures as part of the transition process — RFG maintains that these moves ultimately help strengthen the long-term growth trajectory for Gloria Jean’s stores across the country. (Source: Adelaide Now)