Gourmet confectionery chain, Happy Lab, will open its first kiosk later this year as the chain prepares to go global by 2016. “Happy Lab is an extraordinary business and has gone through a lot of evolution,” Stephen Meurs, owner of Happy Lab, told Inside Retail PREMIUM. “We’ve had it now for over 18 months, so we’re going to keep evolving and developing it with more and more unique products.” Happy Lab has five stores in Australia – two in Victoria and three in NSW. The
new format is part of the company’s strategy to take the chain global within the next 18 months.
“We see Happy Lab as being an international brand with standalone stores and a kiosk offering.”
Meurs is keeping mum on the location of the kiosk, except to say it is being developed in partnership with one of the major shopping centre groups and will be located in the entertainment precinct of the centre.
The format has been spurred on by international interest, primarily in Asia.
“We do get contacted by people from all over the world who have seen Happy Lab in Australia while on holidays, but the Asian market is where the most interest is.”
As for local expansion, Meurs said new stores will only open “if the right location comes up”.
