Cooks Coffee Company (NZX: CCC; AQUIS:COOK), the international coffee-focused café chain and operator of Esquires Coffee in the UK and Ireland, has announced the appointment of Louise Buet as Group Marketing Director.
The newly created non-board role reflects the increasing scale of the Esquires Coffee business and the Group’s ambition to accelerate brand development, customer engagement and franchisee growth across its existing and future markets.
Louise joins Cooks Coffee from Tim Hortons UK, a multinational coffeehouse and restaurant chain, where she has played a key role in the brand’s marketing strategy and growth over the past two years. She brings more than 15 years’ experience in senior marketing and commercial roles across the retail, hospitality and FMCG sectors with expertise in brand development, customer acquisition, loyalty and multi-site growth.
Supporting the next phase of Esquires growth
Louise will lead the Group’s marketing strategy, strengthening the Esquires brand, driving customer demand and loyalty and assisting franchisees to deliver sustainable sales growth. A key priority will be building scalable marketing capabilities and insight to support the expanding store network and ensure the Esquires brand remains distinctive and consistent as the business expands into new locations and markets.
The appointment comes at an important stage in Cooks Coffee’s growth strategy, as Esquires Coffee continues to expand across its core UK and Ireland markets. In the three months ended 30 June 2026, group systemwide store sales across the UK and Ireland increased by 14.0% year-on-year, including 14.9% growth in the UK and 11.8% in Ireland. Over 12 months to 30 June 2026, group systemwide store sales increased 19.3%, while the franchise network added eight net new stores in the UK and six in Ireland.
Keith Jackson, Executive Chairman of Cooks Coffee Company, commented:
“Esquires has strong momentum across the UK and Ireland and Louise’s appointment is an important investment in the next stage of our growth. We see significant opportunities to continue strengthening the brand and supporting our franchise partners. We are delighted to welcome Louise to the Group.”
Louise Buet, Group Marketing Director of Cooks Coffee Company, commented:
“I am pleased to be joining Cooks Coffee and the Esquires Coffee brand at such a pivotal moment in its growth story. The brand has real momentum behind it, and I see a huge opportunity to build on that success and bring the Esquires experience to even more customers in the UK and beyond.
“Esquires’ values also strongly align with my own, particularly its commitment to sustainability and the positive role its cafés play in local communities. I am excited to build on those strong foundations, help sharpen the brand’s positioning and drive its continued growth.”
