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October 20, 2016

(L-R) Baristas Rory Higgs, Jill Nixon, Matt Mazzei and manager Jo-Anne MacDougall are part of the successful team at the Blenz HOpe Cafe, which scored two #1 spots for Technical prowess and for the Secret Shopper Report in a recent company quarterly report. The team is seen here on Oct. 19, Coffee by Donation Day in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Dedication to community puts Blenz HOpe Cafe on top of coffee company’s charts

The dedicated staff at the Blenz HOpe Café have helped propel the coffee shop to the top of the Blenz charts, according to the coffee company’s internal reports.

Based on the most recent quarterly inspections conducted in secret by Blenz Corporate at its 64 locations, the Blenz HOpe Cafe took the Number 1 spot in the technical category, which includes sales, cleanliness, branding and management, by scoring 98%.

It also took the Number 1 spot in the secret shopper report, scoring a 97%. Though it is not the number one store for total growth, it does rank in the top percentile for having consistent growth month over month since opening in January 2015.

It takes teamwork

Café manager Jo-Anne MacDougall says it’s all thanks to her team of baristas.

“It is only due to the team of dedicated employees that we will continue to grow,” says Jo-Anne. “My team is not just dedicated to great customer service but, to our community as well. I am very fortunate to have each and every one of them work here.”

Because the café has been doing so well, the B.C. coffee company invited Jo-Anne to make a presentation at the national Blenz sales seminar in Vancouver recently.

“I did a motivational talk to the other 64 franchisees encouraging them to engage with community, engage and empower staff, and to take pride in ‘ownership’ utilizing the marketing tools made available to us through Blenz Head Office,” says Jo-Anne.

Social enterprise success

Jo-Anne was also the official speaker at the company’s Shine Avant-Garde 2016 fundraiser for mental health last month.

“I educated everyone on the HOpe Centre and the fact that we operate in partnership with VCH, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Blenz as a social enterprise.”

The Blenz Cafe is part the HOpe Centre’s vision for recovery-oriented practice in action, providing meaningful employment to people recovering their mental health. The coffee shop is a social enterprise, which means its goal is larger than turning a profit; it includes a focus on fulfilling a social mission.

The funds raised at the Shine event were equally divided between the HOpe Centre and the CMHA BC division.

For more information contact: Jo-Anne MacDougall, Manager, Blenz HOpe Cafe