Coffee Republic is moving into the Saudi Arabian market. The company has signed a deal with Al Hadaf International trading company for the granting of franchise rights across the country.

In the UK, it has also expanded its franchise with the opening of a café in the Pavillion Retail Park, Strabane, Co Tyrone - its second in Northern Ireland. It has also opened a branch in Queensway, west London.

The company has also launched wireless internet access in most of its UK coffee bars, following successful trials in branches such as Reading and Weybridge. Customers in the bars will be eligible to receive a voucher with an access code with every purchase, then able to access the Coffee Republic hotspot from their Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, mobile phone or PDA.

Coffee Republic chief executive Steven Bartlett said: "Until recently, customers have usually had to pay by the month or hour for internet use on the move."