History of Gloria Jean's Coffees

Gloria Jean's Coffees was founded by Gloria Jean Kvetko in 1979 in Chicago, USA. Gloria Jean's Coffees began as a small coffee and gift shop in Chicago, USA which now has over 110 locations throughout the U.S. Gloria Jean's Coffees USA is owned by Diedrich Coffee, Inc located in Irvine, California.

In 1995, Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine,former Managing Director of advertising agency DDB Needham, visited the United States to sample the Gloria Jean's Coffees brand. Saleh and Irvine identified the opportunity for this brand in Australia, purchasing the international licensing rights from Diedrich Coffee, Inc.

Saleh and Irvine established Jireh International Pty Ltd (trading as Gloria Jeans Coffee), the company that holds the right to franchise Gloria Jean's Coffees in Australia, and purchased the rights to the Gloria Jean's Coffees brand for all other countries from Diedrich Coffee, Inc, with the exceptions of the USA and Puerto Rico.

In late 1996, Jireh International Pty Ltd opened the first Gloria Jean's Coffees store in Miranda, Sydney, and two weeks later another in Eastgardens, also in Sydney. These stores were set up to test the concept in the Australian market.

In early 1998, Gloria Jean's Coffees Australia franchised its first store and within six years had opened 185 stores owned and operated by more than 100 franchisees. In 2003, a franchise opened in Darwin; this meant that the brand was now established in every Australian state and territory.

Jireh International Pty Ltd formed a North American Affiliate, Praise International North America, Inc. and as of June 14, 2009, the North American rights were sold by Diedrich Coffee to the American Affiliate of the Australian holding company

Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine

About Nabi Saleh

Nabi Saleh, Gloria Jean's Coffees Executive Chairman, is one of Australia coffee pioneers, with over 27 years experience in the tea and coffee industries internationally.

As Co-founder of Gloria Jean's coffees in Australia, Nabi has continued to drive the Gloria Jean's Coffees story in Australia and across the world, his coffee experience and knowledge a recipe for success.