Forum Algarve management seem determined to upgrade its range of shops on offer with a new shop selling Apple electronic products announced yesterday, the cinemas undergoing a refit, FNAC opening in a couple of weeks followed by today’s news that the Algarve’s first Nespresso Boutique will be opened on August 8th.
"This is a concept created to answer and be relevant to the needs of accessibility and service excellence that the Nespresso Club members require. The main focus is being increasingly closer to our consumers," according to Portugal’s 'Sr Nespresso,' Francisco Nogueira.
The ‘increasingly closer to our consumers’ reference may address the commercially futile situation to date where Nespresso coffee refills only have been available for purchase online, or by visiting one of these Nespresso Boutiques, the nearest being several hours north in Lisbon.
As the Algarve has lacked an outlet where customers can buy the coffee refills, machine sales have been led by Nespresso’s competitors which manage to offer coffee refills as well as a machine to heat up the water.
Francisco Nogueira said that his 12th store will be used by Nespresso members who 'regularly spend their holidays in the south.' This reflects the lack of success the brand has had in the Algarve despite a willing audience.
The store could be fun though as 'in addition to the 22 Grands Crus (presumably blends of coffee) and limited edition machines with unique design, and accessories, the new Boutique also has a space for recycling at the Recycling Corner, allowing all consumers to deposit used Nespresso capsules and contribute to the local sustainability of the brand.”
This man clearly loves his job, he ends with a flourish - “our Boutiques are the showcase of the Nespresso universe."
