Second Cup Café has added another location to its growing Canadian network with the opening of a new café in Calgary’s Trinity Hills area, reinforcing the brand’s steady expansion strategy focused on community-based locations and local franchise ownership.
The café, located at 435 Na’a Common, officially opened on December 15 and employs nine team members. Situated near Olympic Plaza in a rapidly developing area of the city, the new location is designed to serve both residents and visitors with Second Cup’s premium coffee, specialty beverages, and food offerings, while providing a welcoming space for people to gather and connect.
The Calgary opening reflects a broader pattern of growth for Second Cup, which has been methodically adding locations across Canada as it builds momentum under Foodtastic ownership. Rather than pursuing rapid, high-volume expansion, the brand has emphasized thoughtful site selection and franchise partnerships that embed each café within its surrounding community.
A Franchisee-Led Opening Rooted in the Local Community
The Trinity Hills café is operated by Ravinder Dhillon, marking his first franchise with Second Cup and his second franchising venture overall. Dhillon previously operated a Pita Pit location in Airdrie, bringing prior experience in the franchised restaurant sector to the Second Cup system.
“As a proud member of the local community, opening this Second Cup is incredibly meaningful to me,” said Ravinder Dhillon, Franchisee, Second Cup Trinity Hills. “Second Cup is a brand with strong Canadian roots and a commitment to quality and community, and I’m excited to bring that experience to guests in this growing area of Calgary.”
Second Cup’s reliance on engaged local operators has become a defining feature of its recent growth. By partnering with franchisees who have direct ties to their neighbourhoods, the company aims to create cafés that function as familiar gathering places rather than anonymous chain locations. This approach has been central to the brand’s efforts to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive Canadian coffee market.
Reinforcing the Brand’s Role as a Community Gathering Place
Brand leadership says the Trinity Hills opening reflects Second Cup’s longstanding philosophy of offering more than just coffee. The brand continues to position its cafés as “third spaces,” places where customers can slow down, socialize, and step away from increasingly digital routines.
“Ravinder and his team are eager and ready to offer our homegrown Canadian coffee culture to residents and visitors to Trinity Hills,” said Otman Haouzi, Brand Leader of Second Cup. “Today, perhaps more than in recent years, Canadians are looking for in-person connections as a way to combat social isolation, screen time or an over-extended schedule, and that’s why having a local coffee shop is so vital to any community. We look forward to bringing our Second Cup experience to new guests in this growing area of the city.”
That emphasis on connection has become more pronounced in recent years, as consumer habits shift and demand grows for spaces that support in-person interaction. Second Cup’s café model, which prioritizes seating, atmosphere, and conversation, stands in contrast to more convenience-driven coffee formats and has helped shape the brand’s expansion decisions.
Part of a Broader National Growth Plan
The Calgary opening comes as Second Cup continues to execute a national expansion plan that has taken shape since Foodtastic acquired the brand in 2021. As of November 2025, Second Cup operated over 190 locations across Canada, and the company has articulated a longer-term goal of reaching 300 stores within a five-year growth cycle.
Rather than chasing rapid scale, Second Cup’s expansion strategy has focused on consistency, franchisee support, and operational discipline. Recent openings across the country have included cafés in transit hubs, shopping centres, educational institutions, and mixed-use developments, reflecting a flexible real estate approach that allows the brand to meet customers in a variety of settings.
The Trinity Hills café fits squarely within this framework, adding incremental growth while reinforcing the brand’s community-oriented positioning.
A Canadian Coffee Brand with Deep Roots
Founded in 1975, Second Cup has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s specialty coffee culture. The brand began as a small kiosk selling specialty coffee beans at a time when espresso-based beverages were largely unfamiliar to Canadian consumers. Over the decades, Second Cup helped introduce cappuccinos, lattes, and European-style coffeehouse culture to a national audience.
Despite periods of challenge and ownership changes, Second Cup has retained its identity as a Canadian-founded and Canadian-owned specialty coffee brand. That distinction has taken on renewed importance as consumers increasingly express interest in supporting domestic businesses, particularly in sectors dominated by international chains.
The company marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, a milestone that coincided with renewed confidence in the brand’s future. Under Foodtastic, Second Cup has undergone operational refinements, refreshed branding, and a renewed emphasis on franchise partnerships, all of which have contributed to its return to growth.
