Where it started
In 1989, Bob and Wendy Nelson had a vision: introduce Australians to perfect espresso and handmade fresh food. Sounds simple today. But in 1989, instant coffee was coffee, hipsters were an undergarment, and fresh was frozen.
Bravely, they opened their first oven and espresso machine in Coolangatta on Australia’s Gold Coast, and a category was born.
Backed by belief
If you’ve ever started a business, you’ll know it’s a labour of love supported by committed investors with a shared vision. The Fitzgerald family first invested in Foodco in 1991, and James Fitzgerald, and his Holden Commodore, was soon seen in shopping centres across Australia, building the business one location at a time.
Built by people
Our founders quickly discovered that growth creates its own challenges. Vision and capital are fundamental, but so too are people. Together they developed one of Australia’s leading retail executive teams.
Serge Infanti, our long-serving Chief Executive and investor, was ‘born into coffee’ in his parents’ Milanese café. As one of our earliest franchise partners, Serge spent decades shaping the systems, culture and partner-first mindset that define Foodco today. His contribution to the business and to the Australian franchising sector is enduring.
The next chapter
In 2022, Richard Goodman was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Foodco ANZ, taking the reins from Serge and stepping into a business with deep heritage and significant runway ahead.
Richard brings 26 years of leadership experience across retail, and a clear conviction: the Nelsons’ original vision is more relevant now than ever. In a market crowded with shortcuts, Foodco’s commitment to perfect espresso and genuinely handmade fresh food remains a point of difference worth protecting, and growing. Under Richard’s leadership, Foodco is investing in its franchise partners, modernising the customer experience, and building the platforms to take our brands into their next phase of growth across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Foodco today
Today, our founders’ vision operates through over [X] locations across [X] countries, employing more than [X] people. Their vision remains at the centre of everything we do:
People enjoying perfect espresso and handmade fresh food.
What we stand for
Five things have stayed true since 1989:
- Quality, never compromised. Real espresso. Real food. Made by real people.
- Partners, not licensees. Our franchisees are the heart of Foodco. Their success is ours.
- Craft at scale. Handmade doesn’t have to mean small. We’ve proven you can do both.
- People first. Customers, partners, teams, suppliers — relationships are how we grow.
- Built to last. Three decades in. Just getting started.