Caribou Coffee to make Florida franchise debut in Tampa Bay
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 12, 2022

Midwestern favorite Caribou Coffee Co. will make its Sunshine State debut in the Tampa Bay area.

The coffee chain on Tuesday said that Michelle Mathis has signed a multi-unit development agreement to open Caribou Coffee locations throughout Pinellas County, though Tampa is also listed as a targeted market.

St. Petersburg and Clearwater are targeted markets, Caribou said, but it did not disclose any specific locations, though the first is slated to open by the end of 2022.

Mathis owns and operates multiple Subway franchise locations throughout northern Minnesota with her husband, Bill.

“We are excited to further introduce the state of Florida to Caribou Coffee’s hand-crafted, premium products and beloved company culture,” John Butcher, president and CEO of Caribou Coffee, said in a statement. “With over 20 years of experience in the franchise industry, Michelle and Bill Mathis are the perfect duo to introduce and lead our brand across the Tampa region. They know and love our brand and have roots in Minnesota, where Caribou Coffee was founded.”

Caribou Coffee is sold in Einstein Bros. Bagels shops across Florida. The Minneapolis-based coffee chain announced a domestic franchising program in October 2021.

“When I began considering new franchises to diversify my portfolio, it was important to find a brand aligned with my core values that also offered an experience that would resonate with consumers throughout Florida’s west coast,” Michelle Mathis said in a statement. “As a Minnesota native, I was already familiar with Caribou Coffee and its success in the Midwest and was excited to learn about the brand’s focus for expansion in the Southeast through franchising. I quickly jumped at the opportunity and have no doubt that Caribou’s innovative products will thrive in the growing Tampa market.”