A business fuelled by caffeine and ambition has it sights for sky. 

Bruce and Luke's coffee shops have been popping across North Cumbria for the past 10 years, but now have a goal in mind to have 100 stores franchised by February 2029. 

But it's not just coffee beans that help ground the pair, it's an appreciation for what they do, who they employ and most importantly, who they serve. 

"You can great quality product anywhere, but for me, what sets us apart is great service that really focuses on people and the community - you should never drop the thing you care about, and for us it's always been about service for people. 

"The reason Bruce and I love coffee shops so much is because you get to interact with loads of people every day and you get to be part of people's day and it's most often the positive part - that was what we really missed during Covid.

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"You can actually learn more about your town from a tourist than you can from a local, we realised this when running Foxes a long time ago, the tourists often find the best parts of the city that often goes unnoticed amongst the locals," Luke said. 

The energetic duo first embarked on the entrepreneurial adventure by taking over Carlisle's Foxes Cafe and Lounge 10 years ago, a feat which saw them learn the very basics from scratch - a journey which has now seen a Bruce and Lukes coffee shop in Keswick, Gretna, Carlisle's Coffee Genius on Saint Cuthbert's Lane alongside a colloboration with Carwash Cafe on Church Street. 

"Our mission is to get to 100 stores by February 2029. 

"We're working with a franchising expert, and we're coming to the end of that, our goal is to franchise out the business and give a chance to people who want to be entrepreneur the set-up and the skills they need to do it," he said. 

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The venture look to start their upskilling initiative by advertising and recruiting for their services later this year. 

"We'll be going round at that point making sure we're giving someone the right opportunity to be self-deterred in their own lifestyle," he said. 

Whilst like most businesses, the stores which specialise in coffee and donuts, are feeling the pinch felt by the rising cost of living - and have even seen some coffee bean imports rise by 85 per cent. 

"Everyone is going through change and hardship, which is okay when it's self-determined but because this has been out of our control it's harder, but as long as as you're grateful for where your standing, that's all that matters. 

"And as long as you retain why you did it in the first place and try brush past the stressful points," he said.

 

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