NEW YORK — Godiva Chocolatier on April 18 opened its first cafe concept in New York City, part of the company’s larger global strategy to achieve a five-fold growth plan over the next six years.
Godiva, which already operates cafes in Japan, China, Belgium and the Middle East, said it plans to open 10 more cafes in New York state by the end of 2019. The cafe’s menu includes a variety of baked foods, including Belgian liege waffles and chocolate-inspired cookies. One of the cafe’s signature items is the Croiffle, which is a buttery croissant pressed in a hot waffle iron.
“This is a very pivotal time for Godiva as we transition to align with the ever-changing consumer behavior,” said Annie Young-Scrivner, chief executive officer. “We have an aggressive growth plan for the next six years, which includes expanding our footprint of 2,000 cafes worldwide with a focus on growth in the Americas. We are very excited, as the opening of the Godiva cafe in New York City is a major milestone for us. We look forward to becoming a part of our consumer’s daily life — whether it be breakfast, a midday snack or a sweet afternoon treat, and creating a destination that they want to visit in order to treat themselves beyond the usual holiday or special occasion.”