If the number of Muffin Break stores in Christchurch is anything to go by, citizens of the Garden City love their coffee and muffins. And now the southern city is set to get three more before the start of the Christmas shopping season.
It’s all part of a New Zealand expansion plan by the bakery café chain that will see a total of four new Muffin Break stores open nationally in October and November.
The first was in Auckland’s new NorthWest Shopping Centre in Massey, which opened on 1 October to be followed by Bus Interchange in Christchurch on 12 October. The Landing and Spitfire in Christchurch open on 31 October and 23 November respectively.
The expansion takes the chain’s overall footprint to 43 stores across the North and South Islands.
Muffin Break general manager Garry Croft says the company has always had a strong retail presence in Canterbury. “With the Christchurch rebuild proceeding at pace demand for muffins and coffee has never been stronger here and frankly we are thrilled to play a significant role in the rebuild. There is some great energy and optimism in the city at the moment.”
Mr Croft says Muffin Break is conscious there is still a long way to go in the rebuild for many people. “But we are pleased to contribute to the growth and employment in the city that has always been a big part of our community.
“We think this is especially important in the CBD where we have not had a presence since the disastrous earthquakes. We can’t wait to make our award-winning signature blend coffee and freshly baked and prepared products available more readily in Christchurch.
“With soon to be 11 Muffin Break stores in the region, it’s plain to see Cantabrians love their coffee and a muffin,” he says. “It’s certainly our main growth region at the moment.”
While at any given time Muffin Break has a number of projects in its pipeline, the third quarter of 2015 has been a hectic one Mr Croft says.
