Austalian High Commission deputy head of mission, Karinda D’ Aloisio (left) and Gloria Jena’s Master Franchisee (Fiji Islands), Ariel De Asa, officially opening the doors to the coffee house at Damdar City Centre yesterday. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
By RANOBA BAOA
The Australian Gloria Jean’s Coffees franchise’s presence here was yesterday given as an example of strong trade links between Australia and Fiji.
These were sentiments by Australian High Commission deputy head of mission, Karinda D’ Aloisio at the sixth coffee house in Fiji at Damodar City Centre on Grantham Road yesterday.
“The investment by Gloria Jeans in Fiji is just another example of the strong trade which exists between Fiji and Australia,” Ms D’Aloisio said.
“The Australian Government places a high importance on its bilateral trade with Fiji.
“This year saw the Australian Trade Commission, otherwise known as Austrade – the Australian government’s official trade and investment promotion agency- celebrate its 40th year of establishment in Fiji.”
She added that it was through Austrade, that the Australian government played its own small part in assisting Glora Jean’s enter the Fijian market its early establishment.
Establishing the brand
Gloria Jean’s Ariel De Asa Master Franchisee (Fiji Islands) said he wanted to establish the brand which has an added advantage of Gourmet Coffee beans.
“This is one of the most loved and respected coffee company in the world and we also envision that for Gloria Jean’s,” Mr De Asa said.
“We saw a potential here and envisioned here being an untapped area by USP students.
“You also have expatriates living around the area and he was putting a cinema and supermarket and its close to the stadium so we figured that it is a good investment even though it took a while.”
Mr De Asa was thankful to the Damodar family for envisioning the site and evaluating it proximity to untapped yet viable market location.
While admitting a somewhat stagnant growth back in 2006 where it all began, Gloria Jean’s expects to open a shop in Nadi after previous one was destroyed in the floods two years ago. However not in town.
About Gloria Jean’s
Gloria Jean’s Coffees is an Australian owned global speciality coffee company that has opened more than 1,000 coffee houses across 39 markets worldwide, including over 460 in Australia.