Botega Caffe Cacao and Stay FooDish: partnership starts in Daverio

Botega Caffe Cacao and Stay FooDish are launching a franchise partnership, starting with an operational handover in Daverio, in the province of Varese, northern Italy. From 19 October 2026, Stay FooDish operates the Botega Caffe Cacao outlet in the il Gigante shopping centre as a franchisee. The agreement brings together a coffee shop and patisserie chain and a group already operating restaurants under several brands.

Daverio marks the first step in a joint venture

The development concerns the franchise operation of the Daverio outlet: this is not a new store announcement, but the start of a partnership that both companies describe as a foundation for future growth. The il Gigante shopping centre is therefore the first location where the relationship between the brand and its new franchisee takes practical shape.

According to a report published by Comunicaffè on 19 October, the partners have complementary objectives. Botega Caffe Cacao is bringing an established operator into its network to support franchise growth. Stay FooDish, meanwhile, is adding a premium coffee shop concept to its portfolio, entering the café and coffee shop sector for the first time.

For the franchise sector, this pairing is the distinctive feature of the announcement: a brand seeking management expertise to support its expansion, and a franchisee broadening the range of concepts it operates. Daverio is the concrete starting point, while subsequent development will focus primarily on shopping centres and high-footfall locations.

Botega retains two routes to growth

Botega Caffe Cacao currently has 20 outlets across northern Italy and Switzerland, around a third of which are franchised. Its concept combines a coffee shop with a patisserie, and this is the offering joining Stay FooDish’s portfolio through the Daverio outlet.

The agreement does not mean an end to company-operated openings. The brand will continue to expand through directly operated outlets, retaining two routes to growth. On the franchise side, particular attention will be paid to shopping centres, where the new partner has built up its strongest expertise.

This distinction is important when assessing the agreement. The partnership with Stay FooDish strengthens Botega’s franchise development alongside its directly operated business. The figure of 20 outlets refers to Botega’s total presence across two countries; it should not be read as the number of franchised outlets alone, or of Italian locations alone.

Stay FooDish adds coffee shops to its portfolio

Stay FooDish was formed in July 2026 through the combination of King Food Group, Stay Hungry and Taste Lab. The group brings experience of managing more than 20 restaurants across six Italian regions, with common standards applied across multiple outlets.

Its portfolio includes Alice Pizza, La Piadineria and Burger King. Botega Caffe Cacao adds a different offering alongside these quick-service restaurant brands, centred on coffee and patisserie. With Botega, the group operates more than 20 outlets.

The partners’ contributions remain distinct: Botega provides its business concept and brand identity, while Stay FooDish brings operational expertise gained from managing multiple brands. The agreement is therefore presented not as the creation of a new brand, but as a partnership between businesses with different roles within the franchise sector.

Shopping centres lead the next phase

The partners’ stated direction for joint expansion prioritises shopping centres, drawing on Stay FooDish’s experience in these settings. High-footfall locations are also mentioned. This is an indication of future site preferences, rather than an extension of the operational handover already confirmed in Daverio.

For prospective franchisees, the case offers a practical way to assess an opportunity: consider the concept, the franchisee’s expertise and the chosen type of location together. Practical guidance: before comparing franchise opportunities, always distinguish between outlets already trading, changes of operator and expansion targets. In the Botega–Stay FooDish agreement, the concrete starting point is the operation of the Daverio outlet.