By Conor Sharkey
BEVERAGE chain Coffee Republic said yesterday (Wednesday) they would work to resolve a dispute which has prompted two local business men to walk away from the multi-national company after just six weeks.
Trevor Mealiff and Dermot Kelly opened the North's second Coffee Republic last month, with the promise of 14 new jobs.
But anyone shopping at the Railway Road's Pavilion Retail Park this week can't help but have noticed that Coffee Republic has become simply 'Coffee'.
Meanwhile, on the interior of the premises, everything relating to the chain has been airbrushed out.
So what has happened to the "delight" with which the franchise was launched by Mr Kelly and Mr Mealiff just a matter of weeks ago?
Well according to Coffee Republic's Master Franchisee Siobhan Mooney, the problem lies not with the multi-million pound firm, but with the two Strabane entrepreneurs.
She said: "The two franchisees have gone their separate ways. They no longer want to proceed with Coffee Republic and we are doing all we can to resolve the situation in Strabane."
But according to Trevor Mealiff, there is absolutely no problem whatsover.
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday), he confirmed that the Coffee Republic relationship had well and truly ended and that local people can now look forward to 'a wider range of options and better value for money'.
He said, "When we opened Coffee Republic originally, we were testing things out and seeing how it would go.
"We have now decided that it just isn't for us. We want to serve the needs of the people of Strabane, not those in London.
"The shop will remain open under the name Cafe Fresco but we will be able to use local suppliers and offer a wider range of options to the public. We will also be able to offer a better selection of hot food and a proper children's menu. There was quite alot we weren't able to do under the Coffee Republic name but that will change as of now. The people of Strabane can look forward to getting better value for their money and Dermot and I look forward to building up the clientele we have established to date," Mr Mealiff said.
