Famous Brands wins prestigious Netcare Net Cafe tender

November 22nd, 2012

Johannesburg; Thursday, 22 November 2012: The Netcare Group, which operates South Africa’s largest private hospital network, has awarded Creative Coffees franchising company, a division of Famous Brands, a contract to provide a branded restaurant and retail solution to the hospital group under the Net Café trademark. The contract was awarded after an extensive and keenly contested tender process which relates to the conversion of all 38 existing coffee shops situated in Netcare hospitals nationwide. The effective date of the transaction is 1 November 2012. Famous Brands CEO, Kevin Hedderwick, says, “We are excited and honoured to have been awarded this contract. Netcare is a highly respected organisation and we are delighted to partner with a company of their stature in this venture.” Commenting on the announcement, Jacques Du Plessis, Managing Director of Netcare’s Hospital Division, said that the company is focused on quality service delivery at each and every level within its facilities. “We are passionate about the quality of our service to patients and their loved ones and the Net Café’s at our hospitals countrywide form an integral part of the overall patient experience.” Creative Coffees’ Net Café concept is a bespoke branded solution created and designed specifically for Netcare. The format comprises a fully-fledged convenience retail and restaurant offering applying the same rigorous brand principles employed throughout Famous Brands’ franchised high street branded network. Managing Executive of Creative Coffees, Brent Kairuz, comments, “The new Net Café outlets will be designed to deliver an exceptional experience to all Netcare customers. This will include customised offerings in certain retail environments such as on-site preparation of flowers and gifts. Within a hospital environment, retail is a significant component of the overall sales mix of a hospital coffee shop because there is a strong demand from consumers for convenience purchases.” “The whole Net Café experience is intended to complement Netcare’s values and its positive relationship with Netcare stakeholders. The goal for the Net Café offering is to enhance Netcare’s well-known reputation for high standards and quality hospital care and extend that to all personnel and visitors to the group’s Net Café’s,” Kairuz adds. Hedderwick, says, “Our stated growth strategy is to increase Famous Brands’ presence in various market segments; the private hospital arena is an example of that. Famous Brands’ primary orientation is that of an integrated franchise system and building great and enduring brands is our obsession; in this regard I am confident that Netcare’s strong standing in its communities and Famous Brands’ extensive experience in developing powerful franchised brands will serve to enhance the overall Netcare service offering.” Kairuz concludes, “This contract demonstrates the potential within the South African market to develop branded solutions that have all the attributes of a high street brand, yet whose offerings are designed exclusively for the corporate client.”     For further information:

Kevin Hedderwick Chief Executive Officer Famous Brands Ltd Telephone: 011 651 5812

Del-Maree English Investor Communications Mobile: 083 395 8608