Richard Peet

History

Richard Peet and Soledad Hanna, financial engineer and economist respectively started their successful business “Sweet and Coffee” when they were dating in 1997.

Desserts she made in that time were the inspiration to open a store specialized in desserts, sweetmeats and coffee.

A year before getting married they start with the project. The first Sweet & Coffee was opened in “Mall del Sol” in Guayaquil. Three years later began to grow and other store was opened, growing increasingly others store were opened in Guayaquil and then in Quito.

Nowadays Sweet and Coffee has 34 stores in Guayaquil and 12 in Quito. The company is proud and happy for grown in the last 10 years, with several local. Sweet and Coffee get visit thousands of Ecuadorians to start every day with the best coffee and sweets.

Actually the owners perform roles at the company: Richard Peet as “General Manager” and Soledad Hanna as “Production Manager” and they work together with others members of their families. Now they are thinking to expand their brand to others countries like Peru and Panama.

Recognition

• In 2011 Sweet and Coffee entered in Marketing Hall of Fame by the contribution of the Marketing developed in Ecuador.

• 2010 Flama Award: Is a recognition to hard work and inversion of young brands that with the time can be big brands.

• IEES: Recognition to be into one thousand companies with more contribution and timely compliance with employer contributions in 2010. In 2012 overcome this recognition entering to the select group of 500 companies that are up to date with social security

2. How did they become successful?

Richard Peet and Soledad Hanna said his 10 keys to success.

1. Build a concept: the basics characteristics in a company are: product quality, customer service and a great environment.

2. Prioritize the local environment: customers are finding a comfortable environment where they can get relax and the company always is careful with lights, store colors, music, furniture etc. to help to customers’ needs.

3. Suppliers are our business associate: they are strategic allies because without them cannot guarantee the quality product and customer service.

4. Impress from begin: if the customer feel a bad service and a bad quality product hardly will return. Expectations of service are important as the product quality they have to care both.

5. Train staff: the staff is internal customers, we have to motivate them to then they can motivate our customers to return to the store.

6. The early years are to strengthen brand experience: the first eight years invested many strategies trying to care details.

7. Communication with customers: is important know and learn the different needs of our customers.

8. Provide alternatives: the menu of our company

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