{{Short description|American-Australian retail coffeehouse chain}} {{Distinguish|Gloria Jeans}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox company | name = {{wikidata |property |P2561 }} | logo = Gloria Jeans logo.png | logo_size = 150 | image_size = 150px | image = Brunswick St Mall Gloria Jeans Coffees tenancy Brunswick St Fortitude Valley P1350575.jpg | image_caption = Gloria Jean's store on Brunswick Street Mall in Brisbane, Australia | foundation = {{Start date and age|1979}} in Long Grove, Illinois, USA | founder = Ed & Gloria Jean Kvetko | type = Subsidiary | location = Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia | locations = 599 in 40 countries | products = Hot and Cold Beverages<ref name="Gloria Jeans Coffee">{{cite web|url=http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com |title=Gloria Jean's Coffees - Australia > Home |publisher=Gloriajeanscoffees.com |access-date=2017-11-29}}</ref> | parent = Retail Food Group | key_people = Peter Irvine<br />Nabi Saleh | homepage = {{official URL}} }} '''{{wikidata |property |P2561 }}''' (commonly shortened to just '''{{wikidata |property |P1813 }}''') is an Australian-American retail coffeehouse brand headquartered in Castle Hill, Sydney. The chain is owned by the multinational fast casual restaurant conglomerate Retail Food Group and has more than 599 stores in 40 countries, including over 140 in Australia.<ref name="Bomkamp 2017">{{cite web | last=Bomkamp | first=Samantha | title=Gloria Jean's, coffee shop born in Chicago, set to expand its reach | website=Chicago Tribune| date=2017-08-25 | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-gloria-jeans-expansion-0825-biz-20170824-story.html | access-date=2017-11-27}}</ref>
==History== thumb|Vintage Gloria Jeans, Rivergate Mall Gloria Jean's Coffees was founded by Gloria Jean Kvetko in Long Grove, a small town just outside Chicago, Illinois, United States in 1979.<ref name="Bomkamp 2017"/> The brand began as a small coffee and gift shop in the Chicago area and grew to over 50 locations in the United States after the franchising rights were purchased by the chain Coffee People.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.gloriajeans.com/about-us/|website=Gloria Jean's Coffee-About Us|access-date=2018-02-15|archive-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143834/https://www.gloriajeans.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== International expansion (1995–2009) === In 1995, Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine, former managing director of advertising agency DDB Needham, established '''Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia''' and acquired the rights to franchise Gloria Jean's Coffees in Australia from owner Coffee People.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gloria Jean's Coffees celebrates BRW magazine "Fast Franchise" ranking|date=2011-11-29|access-date=2012-08-03|publisher=Franchise Council of Australia|url=http://www.franchisebusiness.com.au/c/Gloria-Jeans-Coffees/Gloria-Jean-s-Coffees-celebrates-BRW-magazine-Fast-Franchise-ranking-n1828377|archive-date=30 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830231432/http://www.franchisebusiness.com.au/c/Gloria-Jeans-Coffees/Gloria-Jean-s-Coffees-celebrates-BRW-magazine-Fast-Franchise-ranking-n1828377|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=13010753 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929122845/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=13010753 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2012 |title=Jireh International Pty Ltd|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref>
In late 1996, Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia opened its first Gloria Jean's coffee house at Westfield Miranda, Sydney, and two weeks later another at Westfield Eastgardens, also in Sydney.<ref name="ourstory">[http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com.au/ourStory/ourjourney.aspx Gloria Jean's Australia – Our Story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815072725/http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com.au/ourStory/ourjourney.aspx |date=2009-08-15 }}</ref>
In early 1998, Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia franchised its first store and within six years had opened 185 stores owned and operated by more than 100 franchisees.<ref name="ourstory"/>
In July 1999, Diedrich Coffee acquired Coffee People, the US owner of the Gloria Jean's Coffees brand.<ref>[http://www.coffeepeople.com/companypages.tpl?cart=12236693624258855&comppage=aboutus&tname=companyhistory Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321120428/http://www.coffeepeople.com/companypages.tpl?cart=12236693624258855&comppage=aboutus&tname=companyhistory |date=21 March 2009 }} Coffee people website. Retrieved October 10, 2008.</ref><ref>''Diedrich Coffee of Irvine, Calif., to Buy Coffee People of Beaverton, Ore.'', Tribune News, February 12, 1999 [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6617302_ITM courtesy link].</ref>
In 2003, Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia opened a franchise in Darwin, Northern Territory, making the brand available in every Australian state and territory.<ref name="ourstory"/>
In 2004, Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia purchased the branding and roasting rights for all territories outside of the United States of America and Puerto Rico from Diedrich Coffee and established Gloria Jean's Coffees International to handle non-Australian brand and franchising operations.<ref name="GJAbout">[http://gloriajeanscoffees.uz/about/ Gloria Jean's Australia – About] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203053150/http://gloriajeanscoffees.uz/about/ |date=2022-02-03 }}</ref>
=== Consolidation (2009–present) === Gloria Jean's Coffees International purchased the US and Puerto Rican franchise rights to Gloria Jean's from Diedrich Coffee in 2009, giving the company exclusive worldwide franchising rights.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3288200 |title=Diedrich Coffee Completes Sale of Gloria Jean's Coffees Domestic Franchise Operations |publisher=Istockanalyst.com |access-date=2012-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322113835/http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3288200 |archive-date=2012-03-22 }}</ref> As part of the deal, Diedrich retained the rights to use the Gloria Jean's brand in North America for coffee wholesaling operations and Keurig coffee pods.<ref name=":0" />
In 2013, Yellow Pages Singapore announced it would purchase the Australian and international operations of Gloria Jean's in a AU$35.6 million deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom/singapore-firm-picks-up-gloria-jeans/story-fnjw8txa-1226787751221#mm-premium|title=Singapore firm picks up Gloria Jean's|author=Brett Cole|work=TheAustralian |date=21 December 2013}}</ref> Yellow Pages Singapore later pulled out of the deal and in 2014 Gloria Jean's was purchased by Retail Food Group for $163.5 million.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/retail-food-group-acquires-gloria-jeans-to-create-monster-coffee-company-20141024-11b7c6.html |title=Retail Food Group acquires Gloria Jean's to create monster coffee company |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2014-10-24 |access-date=2014-10-26}}</ref>
==Controversies==
===Sugar and fat content=== In 2009, Gloria Jean's was criticised for the sugar and fat content of some of their products. Analysis of a regular 'Gloria Jean's Mocha Chiller Coco Loco' revealed it contained {{convert|95.5|g}} of sugar, which is 106 percent of an adult's recommended daily intake. They have also been criticised for failing to provide nutritional information to their customers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26239723-36398,00.html | work=The Daily Telegraph| title=Gloria Jeans, Starbucks coffee concoctions packed with sugar, fat | first=John | last=Rolfe | date=21 October 2009}}</ref> Gloria Jean's now provides nutrition and ingredient information.<ref name="Nutrition and ingredient info">{{cite news |url=http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LN0oHTRcqSU%3d&tabid=2989 |title=Gloria Jeans: Drink Menu Nutrition and Ingredient Information |work=Gloria Jeans |access-date=2 August 2012 |date=Jan 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819022340/http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LN0oHTRcqSU%3D&tabid=2989 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Coffee supply=== In April 2010, Gloria Jean's Australia was accused of breaking a joint venture agreement with a small US-based coffee supplier, Western Export Services.<ref name="urlCoffee giant embroiled in bitter battle over beans">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/coffee-giant-embroiled-in-bitter-battle-over-beans-20100418-smn9.html |title=Coffee giant embroiled in bitter battle over beans |work=Sydney Morning Herald| first=Ruth | last=Pollard | date=19 April 2010}}</ref> The matter was resolved in the High Court of Australia, in October 2011, with Western Export Services' appeal being dismissed.<ref name="Western High Court">{{Citation |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2011/45.html|title=Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd [2011] HCA 45 (28 October 2011)|publisher=High Court|access-date=3 August 2012}}</ref>
=== Financial support for the Australian Christian Lobby === In November 2010, in the lead up to the Australian Federal Election, Gloria Jean's donated $30,000 to the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://periodicdisclosures.aec.gov.au/GiftsPoliticalExpenditureList.aspx?SubmissionID=48&ClientID=15605 |title=Gifts – Annual Returns |publisher=Periodicdisclosures.aec.gov.au |date=28 June 2012 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> This donation and Gloria Jean's links to the evangelical Hillsong Church led to a national boycott of its stores. Social media campaigns in support of the boycott on Facebook and a petition on Change.org resulted in thousands of supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/8543/Gloria-Jeans-boycott-despicable-says-ACL.htm |title=Gloria Jeans boycott "despicable" says ACL on |publisher=Samesame.com.au|access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2012/06/12/gloria-jeans-leaves-bitter-taste/78912 |title=Gloria Jean's leaves bitter taste | Star Online |publisher=Starobserver.com.au |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> As a direct result of this donation, national youth mental health foundation ''headspace'' pulled out as a partner of the suicide awareness campaign R U OK?, of which Gloria Jean's was a major sponsor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/australia-news/new-south-wales-news/2012/06/15/headspace-withdraws-support-for-ru-ok-day/79196 |title=Headspace withdraws support for RU OK? Day | Star Online |publisher=Starobserver.com.au |date=15 June 2012 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> Gloria Jean's released a statement on 11 June 2012 stating "this was a once off donation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/8530/Gloria-Jeans-We-embrace-equality-and-diversity.htm |title=Gloria Jeans: "We embrace equality and diversity" on |publisher=Samesame.com.au |access-date=2012-11-07}}</ref> Both Gloria Jean's and the ACL claim that the monies were provided as advertising.<ref name="ABC Brisbane">{{Citation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/13/3524390.htm?site=brisbane|title=Boycott on coffee chain sparked by donation to lobby group|author=Isobel Roe|date=14 June 2012|publisher=ABC News|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
Change of management in December 2014 has led some LGBT community members to question the relevance of a continuing boycott.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outinperth.com/should-the-lgbti-community-still-boycott-gloria-jeans/ |title=Should the LGBTI community still be boycotting Gloria Jean's? |publisher=OutInPerth |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
===Underpayment of wages=== In February 2014, a Gloria Jean's franchise in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield was fined $110,000 for underpaying staff following an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman which found that 22 workers were paid as little as $8 per hour (or around half the minimum wage).<ref name="Gloria Jean’s outlet fined for paying workers $8 an hour when company was not making a profit">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/gloria-jeans-outlet-fined-for-paying-workers-8-an-hour-when-company-was-not-making-a-profit/story-fnii5sms-1227204837312 |title=Gloria Jean's outlet fined for paying workers $8 an hour when company was not making a profit |work=News.com.au| first=Stephen| last=Drill | date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
===Loss-making shops and illegitimate marketing expenses=== In December 2022, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission won a civil court case against the owner of Gloria Jean's, Retail Food Group, resulting in Michel's Patisserie and Gloria Jean's franchises receiving repayments and debt erasures totalling $10 million as part of a settlement relating to allegedly illegitimate marketing expenses and allegedly being sold loss-making shops.<ref name="sib22">{{cite news |title=Retail Food Group to pay $10m in repayments and debt erasing to Michel's Patisserie, Gloria Jeans |first=Clare |last=Sibthorpe |date=2022-12-23 |work= News.com.au |publisher=Nationwide News |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/retail-food-group-to-pay-10m-in-repayments-and-debt-erasing-to-michels-patisserie-gloria-jeans/news-story/3c801ed7cb7af930ef15b2ea370ceb77 |access-date=2023-08-06 }}</ref>
==See also== {{portal|Coffee}} * List of coffeehouse chains * List of restaurant chains in Australia
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * {{cite web |author1=News Corp Australia |title=History of Gloria Jean’s franchise coffee shops in Australia exposed |url=https://www.realcommercial.com.au/news/history-of-gloria-jeans-franchise-coffee-shops-in-australia-exposed |website=www.realcommercial.com.au |access-date=20 November 2025 |language=en |date=19 November 2025}} {{refend}}
==External links== {{sister project auto}} *{{official website}}
{{Keurig Dr Pepper brands}} {{Fast-food chains of the United States}} {{Food chains in Australia}}
Category:Companies based in Irvine, California Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in Australia Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in the United States Category:Restaurants established in 1979 Category:Restaurant chains in Australia Category:1979 establishments in Illinois Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions Category:Fast-food franchises