The Syra Coffee chain of cafeterias is preparing its internationalization with a jump to Portugal or France in 2024. The forecast is to open a store by the middle of next year. “It will be something organic, a logical growth, not very aggressive and capillary. First we want to finish penetrating the Spanish market before leaving”, explains Yassir Rais, founder and CEO. It already sold abroad through its online store, which represents a minor part of the business, but it did not have a physical location.
The foreign adventure will mean a new phase in the short life of the company, born with a store in Gràcia in 2015, which plans to exceed 50 by 2023. To achieve this, it is in full expansion throughout the national territory. Before the end of the year, it will open at least 10 new stores –already under construction– to increase the current 41. "We continue to consolidate and grow," says Rais. It will establish itself in the seven cities in which it is already present (Barcelona, Madrid, Girona, Mallorca, Valencia, Seville, San Sebastián) and will enter Bilbao and Malaga. “In smaller cities we see more impact with the openings,” he says. Rais does not rule out opening some more if opportunities arise.
Despite the growth, they want to maintain a commitment “very linked to quality”. Syra Coffee only works with specialty coffee. "It is 2% of global production and consumption, free of pesticides, with respect to the seasons." Quality note "for a client who has a palate, who is also looking for a conscious consumption". The product comes from some 60 different producers, from families to cooperatives in Central America, South America and the Horn of Africa. “We import, taste and roast”, something that “brings the producer closer, from the farm to the cup”.
In the cafeterias he has coffee to take away and sells about 20 varieties to prepare at home. The bulk of what is billed comes from stores, with 75%-80% of the total, and the rest are online sales. In 2022, it billed just over 3 million euros and this year the base scenario is to double the figure. Just two years ago, it inaugurated roasting facilities in l'Hospitalet that have allowed a productive jump and cemented the expansion. There it concentrates its office and plant, with about 20 workers. With all the stores there are about 160. More recent is Syra Lab, a project to find more sustainable and circular solutions in the chain.
Inflation has raised coffee, although less specialty. “It has affected the margin, but we have not given up on suppliers.” The increases that the client can see are more for other reasons such as rent, salaries or the cost of pastries, he says.
