NZX AND MEDIA RELEASE 4 May 2015

Esquires store revamp drives sales growth New stores represent the international future of Esquires Coffee brand

Upgrades to Cooks Global Food’s (NZX.CGF) Esquires Coffee houses in Ireland, the UK and with new branding are driving strong growth in same store sales as consumers seek out the chain’s artisan coffee experience based on the Organic & Fairtrade principles.

The recently rebranded and upgraded Esquires Coffee store in the historic city of Durham, in the north of England has seen a 19.2% uplift in same store sales over the 29 weeks since it re-opened. The Stevenage, UK store has seen an 11.4% increase in same store sales in the 9 weeks since it reopened, while Esquires flagship Chinese store in Oriental Plaza in Beijing has seen a 21.4% increase in same store sales in the first two weeks since it reopened.

In addition, the new Esquires Coffee store in Mullingar, Ireland, which opened earlier this month and is one of the Esquires chain’s largest stores worldwide, is already delivering weekly sales ahead of all other stores in the global Esquires Coffee network.

The new stores make an unreserved commitment to Fairtrade Organic coffee. The new Mullingar cafe has over 100 seats and also incorporates a kids’ area with iPads equipped with educational games.

Cooks Global Foods Executive Chairman Keith Jackson says: “These new store formats represent the future of the Esquires Coffee brand and are delivering real returns to our franchisees and value to Cooks shareholders.

“The Esquires Coffee brand is a microcosm of New Zealand's café culture. It has fairness integrity, passion, excellence, innovation, sustainability and community at its heart and it has been recognised for its authenticity.”

Last week a new UK study ranked Esquires Coffee as a leader among UK coffee stores for its social and environmental impacts, ahead of global brands such as , Costa Coffee and Caffé Nero.

An article in Ethical Consumer Magazine - subsequently covered in the UK’s The Guardian - ranks Esquires Coffee stores as having one of the best social and environmental impacts of the 14 major UK coffee chains surveyed in the study. The

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Ethical Consumer Magazine can be accessed by clicking here. The Guardian’s coverage can be accessed here.

“We aim for our coffee houses to become an integral part of the community they serve, and we encourage their involvement with local charities, schools and causes in need. Sourcing fair trade and organic coffee is the natural extension of these values in the international market place,” Mr Jackson said.

Cooks Global Foods currently operates Esquires Coffee houses in 72 locations in the UK, Ireland, the and Asia and is targeting the launch of an additional 53 stores over the next year, taking the total to 125 stores.

Contact: Keith Jackson Richard Inder Executive Chairman Merlin Consulting Cooks Global Foods Mob +64 (21) 645643 Mob: +64 (21) 702 509 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

About Cooks Global Foods: Cooks Global Foods operates in world markets and is listed on the NZAX market operated by NZX Limited in New Zealand under the code CGF. It owns the intellectual property and master franchising rights to Esquires Coffee Houses worldwide excluding New Zealand and Australia. CGF’s Esquires currently operates or franchises coffee houses in the , Ireland, the Middle East and China. Related businesses within the group include New Zealand-based supply companies Progressive Processors and Scarborough Fair, which supply product into both Esquires stores and other third party customers. See: www.cooksglobalfoods

The following high resolution images are available for download:

Esquires Coffee, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.

Food counter: click here Barista: click here

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Main floor: click here Kids area: click here

Esquires Coffee, Durham, UK.

Durham exterior: click here Durham exterior: click here

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