Canadian Coffee Giant Second Cup Tiptoes Into U.S. Market

Canada’s largest specialty coffee retailer, Second Cup, has at last ventured south of the border into the U.S. market, earlier this month opening a 1,900-square-foot store in a strip mall in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

The coffee company, which began in Toronto 37 years ago and has grown to become one of Canada’s top restaurant brands with retail locations in 19 countries, has also announced plans to introduce more Florida stores.

“This is an ideal location for Second Cup and we have looked forward to this opening,” Jim Ragas, President International of The Second Cup Coffee Company Inc., said of the store opening. “Florida is a very promising market for us.”

Second Cup offers a fairly traditional coffee shop menu of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as smoothies, parfaits and fresh juices. It also offers baked goods, pre-made sandwiches and salads. But the company has tried to set itself apart in Canada by investing more in interior furnishings, such as comfortable lounge chairs and patio furniture.

By focusing first only on South Florida, it appears the coffee company is taking a more conservative approach toward the Starbucks-blanketed U.S. than its Canadian competitor Tim Horton’s, which already has opened more than 600 locations, in addition to its more than 3,000 Canadian stores.