If you stop by one of our local coffee shops, you probably see a familiar sight each week – Coffee News.
But how did it get there?
We spoke to local owner-publisher Greg Davies, who said the publication of Coffee News as a franchise traces its roots back to 1988, when publisher Jean Daum, newly unemployed at the time, noticed people in a coffee shop had little to read while waiting.
Inspired by a simple sugar packet, she created Coffee News as a short-form, uplifting publication designed specifically for casual public reading.
The idea quickly expanded into an international franchise.
Davies says he and his wife brought Coffee News to the Norfolk and Haldimand region about 10 years ago, after entering the franchise system and attending training in Bangor, Maine.
Today, the publication reaches roughly 55 locations across the region, stretching from Caledonia down to Port Rowan.
Davies says distribution continues to expand based on demand, with stands placed in high-traffic community spaces where readership remains strong.
Davies says the publication saw significant adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as paper products were generally not allowed in coffee shops or waiting rooms.
While you can find a wide range of topics being discussed online, Davies notes that Coffee News remains intentionally focused on a certain kind of news.
This good news approach makes it appealing for young readers and older ones, often times bridging a gap and offering up points of conversation.
He says the goal remains to encourage community engagement, spark conversation, and give residents something familiar and upbeat to share.
