Mugg & Bean is a full-service coffee-themed franchise restaurant chain originating in South Africa. The restaurant chain was founded in 1996 by Ben Filmalter after a visit to a Chicago coffee shop in the early 1990s inspired him to open a similar restaurant in South Africa.[2] The first restaurant was opened at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in 1996.[2][3] The franchise was bought by Famous Brands in 2009.[4]

Mugg & Bean
IndustryRestaurants
GenreCoffee & Generous Food
FoundedVictoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa (1996 (1996))
FounderBen Filmalter
Headquarters,
Number of locations
184 stores (2015)
Products
ParentFamous Brands Limited[1]
Websitewww.muggandbean.co.za

As of 2015 they had 184 outlets throughout South Africa and the rest of Africa, as well as a number of overseas operations, including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.[citation needed]

Controversy

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In late 2018 and early 2019 Mugg & Bean was criticised by political parties and trade unions for alleged unfair labour practices. Trade union COSATU threatened to report the company to regulators for violating labour regulations relating to wages and working conditions.[5] In a separate incident the company was protested by the Economic Freedom Fighters political party when a restaurant manager was dismissed by a franchise owner amidst allegations of racism whilst the company stated that the manager was simply retrenched to cut costs.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Home". Famous Brands. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  2. ^ a b "Mugg & Bean founder dies | IOL". Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  3. ^ "Mugg & Bean mourns the death of its creator, "Mr Generosity" Ben Filmalter". BizNews.com. 26 Jul 2016. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  4. ^ Said, Michael (19 Oct 2010). "Who mugged the Bean?". Bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  5. ^ Lindeque, Mia. "Cosatu threatens Mugg & Bean with legal action". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  6. ^ "Mugg & Bean manager lost his job because he was retrenched not because he's black". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
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