O' My Buns! eyes UK franchise agreement

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

Initial design for the UK O' My Buns! stores
Initial design for the UK O' My Buns! stores

Related tags Coffeehouse Coffee

International cafe brand O’ My Buns! is opening its first UK site in Leicester in June, and plans to expand nationwide.

The 30-cover site will serve hot drinks and signature coffee buns. Originating in Asia as a dessert, the buns can be filled or topped with ingredients such as cream cheese, Nutella or chocolate chips.

Following a soft launch the company has attracted interest from several potential franchisees and is looking at opening further sites in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Newcastle and Manchester.

While the brand operates over 50 stores in the US, Middle East and Asia, the move to the UK has been driven by local entrepreneurs Hanif Piranie and Fayyaz Jamal.

“When I first walked in to O’ My Buns! in Abu Dhabi the smell of fresh baked buns and coffee was much more powerful than anything I’ve experienced in UK coffee houses. Once I had tasted a bun, I was convinced this should be in the UK,” said Piranie.

Central processing kitchen

A centralised processing kitchen has been constructed in Leicester that will deliver buns to sites around the country.

Jamal said the kitchen would be ‘key’ to the brand’s success in the UK.

“We will be able to restock any store within 24 hours of an order, rather than having the buns delivered from abroad,” he said.

O’ My Buns! sites will vary in size from concession stands to 30-50 cover café’s. Though the brand is initially targeting high footfall areas such as shopping malls, it is hoped the coffee shops will branch out to the high street.

“The coffee bun can be served almost anywhere, from small concessions through to shisha cafes and family restaurants,” said Jamal.

Modern design

The UK stores will have a modern, European look created by Retail Mark Design.

Founder Usman Malik told BigHospitality that the smell of the freshly baked buns and coffee would speak for itself.

“I cannot stress how unbelievable the smell of buns and coffee are. We’re on the verge of putting a serving station in the window of the store just so people could smell it,” he said.

The first UK O’ My Buns! site is set to launch in Leicester on 1 June.

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